Namibia writes off half of Zambia’s Walvis Bay dry port debt, eyes joint rail project

The Namibian government has written off 50 percent of the US$700,000 historical debt owed by Zambia in relation to the operation of the Zambian Dry Port at Walvis Bay, authorities have confirmed.

Transport and Logistics Minister, Frank Tayali, disclosed that Zambia had struggled for years to maintain the facility, which serves as a critical gateway for Zambian imports and exports through Namibia.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Saturday by Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer, Enerst Chanda, Tayali also underscored the importance of establishing a Permanent Corridor Secretariat with defined governance structures and sustainable funding mechanisms.

Speaking during a courtesy call by Namibia’s Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, Tayali said such a secretariat would enhance coordination, private sector engagement, performance monitoring, and regional policy alignment.

The Minister further revealed Zambia’s interest in pursuing a joint Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project linking Livingstone to Walvis Bay, which could significantly boost regional connectivity.

“A feasibility study could be jointly commissioned to evaluate this option in terms of cost, economic return, and regional integration benefits,” Tayali stated.

In response, Nekundi emphasized the importance of translating bilateral commitments into tangible results, especially in improving the flow of goods and services between the two countries.

He said Namibian President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and her Zambian counterpart Hakainde Hichilema had entrusted their respective ministries with the task of delivering meaningful transport infrastructure and facilitation.

“The longstanding bilateral relations between Namibia and Zambia mandate us to support each other across various areas of development,” Nekundi said, adding that continued collaboration remains vital to achieving shared goals.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.