Botswana: The Minister of Transport and Public Works of the Republic of Botswana, Eric Molale, and his Namibian counterpart, John Mutorwa, attended and co-chaired the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) of the Trans-Kalahari Railway Line (TKRL) Project in Ghanzi, Botswana.
The Minister highlighted that the railway line project between Botswana and Namibia is implemented in the interest of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)as well as the SADC regional integration initiative.
The Minister of Transport and Public Works, Eric Mothibi Molale, says Botswana is optimistic that the envisaged Railway line project between Botswana and Namibia will be realized.
He said this yesterday, on Friday, during the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) meeting in Swakopmund, Namibia.
Minister Molale expressed delight in the work put in by officials from both countries, particularly in ensuring that the Roadmap that was formulated in the Ghazni meeting in July 2023 is fully adhered to.
Among the salient deliverables of the Roadmap includes the Pre-Procurement phase of the Expression of Interest (EOI) with the aim of funding the feasibility study as well as the development of the proposed new Trans-Kalahari Railway Line.
The JMC, Co-Chaired by Minister Molale and his counterpart Minister Mutorwa, resolved that the Trans-Kalahari Project Management Office (TKR-PMO) be strengthened with requisite expertise, with the view to expedite the drafting of the comprehensive Terms of Reference for the Request for Proposals (RFP), amongst other things.
The high level bilateral meeting resolved that the RFPs, once finalized and approved, be issued to the short-listed respondents by March 2024 to enable the appointment of a successful respondent by May 2024, in line with the Roadmap.
The heavy haul railway line, which will be implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), is expected to facilitate trade in Africa and unlock international markets.
The next meeting will be hosted by Botswana on a date still to be communicated.