The Zambezi Governor, Dorothy Kabula, is concerned about delays in the implementation of the One Stop Border Post initiative as well as unresolved operation challenges at the Kalimbeza Rice Project.
These projects hold economic potential for the country at large and the people of the region.
Delivering the region's SORA, Kabula said during the year under review all border activities in the region recorded substantial increases in revenue, signalling the need to fast-track the full implementation of the One-Stop Border Post initiative.
Imports and exports reached a record N$71 billion and N$20 billion, respectively, an increase from N$52 billion and N$13 billion, respectively.
With over 30,600 heavy goods vehicles weighed and screened at Katima Mulilo Weighbridge, the weighbridge also still faces operational challenges with only one shift from 8 to 5 while the Katima Mulilo border is open 24/7.
"Meaning the trucks are moving around the clock while the weighbridge is closed. Secondly, the weighbridge is faced with a serious shortage of manpower with only four staff members. Accordingly, the weighbridge requires at least 12 staff members to be able to operate a 24 hr shift. Out
Kabula added that the proposed 24-hour operations at the Walvis Bay and Katima Mulilo weighbridges this financial year will reduce the number of vehicles overloaded on the national roads, thereby significantly reducing the millions spent on road maintenance.
Regarding the Kalimbeza Rice Project, despite 137 tonnes harvested, the project is still challenged with the processing machine partially repaired and the rice sorter machine still not fixed since 2018.
"The sorting is being done manually by a few staff members, the storage remains a challenge. The current storage capacity is too inconsequential to accommodate a bumper harvest. The third challenge is lack of a market. I therefore call upon disaster risk management under the office of the Prime Minister to prioritise the Kalimbeza rice to be considered for distribution during drought relief and flood victims to un-shelve the stock at the Kalimbeza rice project.
Kabula said that the realisation of Zambezi as the food basket should be evident through prioritising the maximisation of rice production.