The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) is leading a delegation of Namibian border agencies to Livingstone, Zambia, for deliberations on the establishment of a One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Katima Mulilo.
The Joint Technical Committee meeting commenced on Tuesday and served as a preparatory platform ahead of the Joint Steering Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The latter will be attended by the Heads of various institutions involved in border management and facilitation.
Speaking at the opening session, Willbroad Poniso, NamRA’s Head of Customs and Excise, emphasised that the establishment of the OSBP at Katima Mulilo was no longer a conceptual ambition but a strategic imperative. He urged all stakeholders to accelerate implementation efforts to bring the project to fruition.
On his part, Derrick Sikombe, Assistant Director in the Department of Domestic Trade and Commerce at the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia, echoed similar sentiments, emphasising that the Katima Mulilo One Stop Border Post is more than just infrastructure, but a catalyst for trade, economic growth and deeper regional integration. He noted that the efficiency of its operations will have a direct impact on cross-border mobility, business competitiveness and the livelihoods of communities in the region.
Participating Namibian institutions include the Roads Authority, Roads Fund Administration, Namibia Agronomic Board, Zambezi Regional Council, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, as well as the Ministry of International Relations and Trade.