Cabinet moves to end Katima border gridlock

In a decisive move to tackle worsening congestion at the Katima Mulilo Border Post, Cabinet has approved urgent measures such as the introduction of documentary pre-clearance, ensuring paperwork is processed before trucks arrive to minimize delays.

The interventions, endorsed at the first decision-making meeting on Tuesday, outline both short-term and long-term solutions to clear the backlog of trucks, some of which have been stranded for days due to inefficient processing.

Among the short-term strategies, the implementation of Clearing Agent Rules, under the Customs and Excise Act of 1998, aims to tighten regulatory procedures and boost efficiency.

The government will also establish an association of truck drivers for Namibia to facilitate structured dialogue between truckers and border officials to swiftly resolve bottlenecks.

From 1 April, the Katima Mulilo (Wenela) border post will shift to 24-hour operations, including round-the-clock use of the weighbridge to match border functions. Diplomatic talks with Zambia are also in progress to remove processing restrictions that have slowed clearances.

Looking beyond immediate relief, Namibia and Zambia will conduct a Joint Time Release Study to pinpoint congestion hotspots and improve clearance processes. An Inter-Agency Standard Operation Framework will also be implemented to strengthen coordinated border management.

A One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) is also envisaged to allow customs officials from both countries to conduct joint processing, eliminating duplication and drastically cutting wait times. Other long-term solutions include the development of a truck port facility to manage high traffic volumes and the relocation of the Katima Mulilo Weighbridge to prevent congestion in the town centre.

Speaking to Namibian Sun on Thursday, Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu acknowledged the persistent congestion, citing paperwork inefficiencies and poor internet connectivity as primary causes of delays affecting immigration, NamRA, and clearing agencies.

“Sometimes they process documents quickly, but at other times, they are slow due to poor network connectivity,” Sampofu said.

Two weeks ago, the regional leadership met with MTC and Telecom to address internet failures disrupting border operations.

“This is the main reason for delays and congestion. They assured us they would work on a solution, and we are still waiting for their response. Meanwhile, the governments of Namibia and Zambia are finalizing plans to establish a One-Stop Border Post, with a NamRA team set to assess the current setup,” Sampofu added.

Logistics expert and PhD candidate Mufaya Bruce Liswani warned that Katima Mulilo’s growing congestion has been a decade-long crisis.

“When the border transitioned to 24-hour operations, it was expected to ease traffic. However, delays persist due to infrastructure bottlenecks, slow manual verification, and lack of coordination between Namibian and Zambian agencies. System downtimes further aggravate the issue,” he said.

Liswani also highlighted that Katima Mulilo’s roads were not built for high volumes of heavy-duty trucks, worsening congestion and disrupting local transport, especially in the rainy season.

For truck drivers, the situation is a daily struggle. Namibian trucker Andrew Angombe (44) said delays at Katima Mulilo often stretch up to a week, forcing drivers to sleep in their trucks. “Some days, we wait three days, sometimes even a week, just to have our paperwork cleared,” he said. Angombe also welcomed the government’s move to approve documentary pre-clearance, saying it would significantly cut waiting times.

Zambian truck driver Emmanuel Mulenga shared similar frustrations, stating that they had to wait three days for paperwork. “There is no proper space for trucks. We are parked near a lodge, while others are squeezed near container offices. The lack of facilities makes it even harder,” he said.

NamRA commissioner Sam Shivute emphasized that clearance delays are largely due to trucks arriving without prior documentation.

“Before a truck reaches the border, customs declarations should be cleared in advance. Currently, some trucks only submit documents upon arrival, causing unnecessary delays as they move through multiple agencies,” he said.

Shivute confirmed that Cabinet’s approved measures, both short-term and long-term, are designed to eliminate border inefficiencies.

“One major initiative we are launching this year is the One-Stop Border Post, meaning a truck from Namibia will only stop once on the Zambian side, and vice versa, similar to what we already have at the Trans-Kalahari Border Post,” he said.

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