adminTHE Government is satisfied with the progress taking place in the setting up of the estimated $3,4 million dry port at Walvis Bay in Namibia.
Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Cde Chiratidzo Iris Mabuwa said construction work at the dry port was progressing well adding the facility was going to play a pivotal role in improving trade facilitation.
“The dry port is well at an advanced stage now. It was stalled after the contractor whom we had contracted defaulted but now we have resuscitated that and the dry port is going to be constructed. It’s something which is coming up and it’s aligned with infrastructural development and trade facilitation,” Cde Mabuwa said.
In 2009 the Government of Namibia granted Zimbabwe 19 000 square metres of land in the port city of Walvis Bay to construct the dry port as part of efforts by the two countries to facilitate an efficient transportation of goods.
Several studies have pointed out that some of the problems facing Zimbabwe’s foreign traders include lack of infrastructure to facilitate the efficient shipment of imports and exports.
Government has been taking steps to solve the bottlenecks.
A dry port (sometimes inland port) is an inland intermodal terminal directly connected by road or rail to a seaport and operating as a centre for the transhipment of sea cargo to inland destinations.
“Usually the concept of dry ports would have been more effective if the dry port was here in Zimbabwe. If we identified an area and make it a dry port area such that it’s sort of a warehouse where the clearances will be happening.
“However, as for the one in Namibia we had the Government of Namibia giving us that land but not only us but Zambia and Botswana as well. It’s going to help us in facilitating trade,” Cde Mabuwa said.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said 20 percent of the first phase, which requires $1,5 million to be completed had been done.
“We sent our engineers a few weeks ago and they were quite satisfied with the major developments taking place there. Construction by the contractor is progressing well. They have done 20 percent of the civil work. We have been given the budgetary allocation and part payment has been made,” Dr Mpofu said.
In May, Namport marketing and Strategic Business Development public relations assistant Mr Cliff Shikuambi while briefing President Mugabe on the progress of the dry port said: “We were happy to tell him that Zimbabwean companies can now use their dry port for imports and exports through Namibia. The port will be ready in the next five months.”
Namibia has become one of the most strategic routes for landlocked countries to access the seas. Trade for Zimbabwe through the port of Walvis Bay has grown significantly to 2 500 tonnes of cargo per month, according to Government. The port has seen tremendous growth over the years. In 1994 it was mainly a fishing port handling about 20 000 containers per annum. This figure has grown to about 350 000 containers per annum and is expected to reach one million containers per annum with the expansion projects under way.
Online Reporter