• The Agreement is with the Attorney General for legal clearance before it is presented to Cabinet.
• The Corridor is very important for Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo.
• The Agreement seeks to harmonize operating procedures for both countries.

Minister of Transport and Logistics has pledged government’s commitment to the ratification of the Walvis-Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor Agreement.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Namibia’s Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, Frank Tayali said in the ratification process, the Agreement is with the Attorney General for legal clearance before it is presented to Cabinet.
Mr. Tayali stated that the Corridor is very important for Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in terms of exports and imports to and from the Atlantic Ocean countries.
“This Corridor Agreement is very important for Zambia and the DRC. Business is booming in both DRC and Zambia as we expand our economies. It also gives us an alternative route to the sea,” Mr. Tayali said.
He added that the Corridor Agreement seeks to harmonize operating procedures for both countries and charges along the Corridor.
Mr. Tayali explained that Government’s desire is to leverage on the Zambia port facility in Walvis Bay to improve the movement of cargo both as exports and imports along the Wavis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Corridor.
“It is envisaged that once the port is fully utilized, we shall see the reduction of congestion at the port of Dar-re-Salaam as many people will find the port of Walvis Bay as an alternative and competitive port offering services that are cost effective and efficient in transport and logistics.”
And Mr. Tayali said government wants to strengthen bilateral relations with Namibia in the development of transport and logistics infrastructure in order to improve the movement of people and cargo.
“Zambia and Namibia enjoy cordial relations and cooperate in sub regional and multilateral forums and usually have common positions aimed at promoting the interests and socio-economic welfare of our people. It is in this disposition that we want to ensure we strengthen our ties even more.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Tayali said the Railway link from Grootfontein via Katima Mulilo to Livingstone will promote the socio-economic development of Namibia and Zambia once it is done because it will make it easier for the movement of both cargo and passengers.
He thanked the Namibian government for providing Zambia with 30, 410 square meters of land use as a port, stating that it is the new Administration’s desire to utilize full extent of the land and develop it to the benefit of both countries.
“Zambia has shifted its focus from just roads to having a higher level of connectivity within the region by rail. This will facilitate a higher level of bulk commodities that can be exported out of our region to other countries. The maintenance costs on our roads are very high as we expand these economies, therefore we are emphasizing railway connectivity.
“That is why Zambia is very much interested in the Railway link from Grootfontein via Katima Mulilo to Livingstone because once it is done, it will be easier for the movement of both cargo and passengers,” he stated.