by ARNOLD MULENGA
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – LANDLOCKED-Zambia has received an economic boost after neighbouring Namibia donated some land at the Walvis Bay port.
This is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen trade infrastructure and regional economic integration.
The land donated by Namibia is for construction of a Zambian dry port.
Mark Simuuwe, spokesperson of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND), hailed the milestone.
“This initiative is a clear testament to President (Hakainde) Hichilema’s forward-thinking approach to regional cooperation,” he said.
“His continued engagement with regional heads of state has paved the way for Zambia to gain critical access to the Walvis Bay Port, significantly reducing our dependence on costlier storage and transit facilities in other countries.”
The dry port at Walvis Bay is expected to streamline the movement of goods, reduce landing costs for imports, and improve the overall efficiency of Zambia’s supply chain.
Simuuwe noted, “This is a progressive move that supports President Hichilema’s broader vision of positioning Zambia as a central logistics and trade hub in Southern Africa.”
The agreement follows a recent state visit to Zambia by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, hosted by Hichilema.
Zimbabwe, Zambia’s southern neighbour has equally been offered similar dry port land a few years back during President Robert Mugabe’s time.
– CAJ News