Namibia and Zambia are accelerating efforts to operationalise the One-Stop Border Post at Katima Mulilo.
The project aims to boost trade, reduce delays, and strengthen regional integration between the two countries.
Speaking during a Joint Steering Committee meeting, Commissioner of the Namibia Revenue Agency and Co-Chairperson of the committee, Sam Shivute, highlighted the volume of trade between the two countries.
Shivute noted that imports from Zambia have significantly increased over the past five years, demonstrating the importance of an efficient border system.
“And looking at just 2021, when NamRA was launched, imports for that specific year were about N$25 billion. By 2025, this figure stood at N$61 billion. However, in 2024, imports reached N$64 billion before declining slightly to N$61 billion in 2025.”
Zambia’s Permanent Secretary and Co-Chairperson of the committee, Mwaka Mukubesa, reaffirmed Zambia’s commitment to ensuring the project is delivered on time.
“We recognise that the success of the project will depend on sustained coordination among our institutions, between our two countries, and continued engagement at a technical level through the subcommittees, most importantly by adhering to the agreed timelines.”
Mukubesa added that faster border processes will boost production, accelerate trade, and create jobs for young people.
Also addressing the meeting, Namibia’s High Commissioner to Zambia, Goms Menette, called for the urgent implementation of the project.
“We want to see trade freely moving between the two countries, and I can tell you that there are very big opportunities that we can explore. We must ensure that we do not prioritise trade with European countries, but rather strengthen intra-African trade as neighbours.”
Chairperson of the Zambezi Regional Council Management Committee, Bernard Sisamu, representing the Governor of the Zambezi Region, Dorothy Kabula, emphasised the direct impact the project will have on communities living along the border.
“It is about transformation. It will reduce duplication of procedures, cut down waiting times, and make cross-border trade smoother and more predictable. It will strengthen regional integration, drive economic growth, and create jobs for our youth. It will also enhance security and cooperation between Namibia and Zambia, ensuring that our border remains a place of opportunity rather than frustration.”
So far, Namibia and Botswana have implemented a One-Stop Border Post, demonstrating the effectiveness of the system in facilitating smoother cross-border movement and trade.