Trade across southern Africa moves slowly because of long waits at the Trans-Kalahari border post. The SADC group released a study about these delays on Thursday. They checked how long everything takes from October 2023 through March 2024. The Namibia Revenue Agency worked with SADC on this project.
Head expert Paulinus Tiromwe points out that many different government offices work at the border, each doing their job separately. This makes everything cost more and take longer for businesses. After the goods arrive and finish the first steps, papers take one hour and three minutes to reach customs. Then comes a huge wait—twelve hours and eighteen minutes pass before the next step happens after agents get release papers.
Other government groups need thirty-seven minutes to do their part, and the final exit takes eight minutes. Goods going through as imports need five hours and fifty minutes total—much longer than needed. Even companies that should move through faster wait just as long as everyone else.
Sam Shivute from the Namibia Revenue Agency says they work hard on free trade deals. Namibia wanted to find exactly what slows down people and goods at this border crossing. They needed clear numbers about wait times to make better plans. Finding these problems helps them improve the Trans-Kalahari Corridor for everyone who uses it.
Head expert Paulinus Tiromwe points out that many different government offices work at the border, each doing their job separately. This makes everything cost more and take longer for businesses. After the goods arrive and finish the first steps, papers take one hour and three minutes to reach customs. Then comes a huge wait—twelve hours and eighteen minutes pass before the next step happens after agents get release papers.
Other government groups need thirty-seven minutes to do their part, and the final exit takes eight minutes. Goods going through as imports need five hours and fifty minutes total—much longer than needed. Even companies that should move through faster wait just as long as everyone else.
Sam Shivute from the Namibia Revenue Agency says they work hard on free trade deals. Namibia wanted to find exactly what slows down people and goods at this border crossing. They needed clear numbers about wait times to make better plans. Finding these problems helps them improve the Trans-Kalahari Corridor for everyone who uses it.
