Zimbabwe dry port launched at Walvis Bay

Rudi Bowe

The Zimbabwean dry port in the port of Walvis Bay was inaugurated on Friday by the country’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa. At his side during this historic occasion was Namibia’s President Hage Geingob. Pictured above: President Geingob and President Mnangagwa and a member of the Namport Board, Nangula Hamunyela.

The Zimbabwean dry port in the port of Walvis Bay was inaugurated on Friday by the country’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa. At his side during this historic occasion was Namibia’s President Hage Geingob. Pictured above: President Geingob and President Mnangagwa and a member of the Namport Board, Nangula Hamunyela.

The 18 300 square metres dry port was completed at a total cost of N$48,5 million and construction took some four years. The dry port will be used as a gateway for the storage and handling of all cargo to and from Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is landlocked and depends on the port of Walvis Bay and the Trans-Caprivi Corridor for imports and exports and the transport of these trade goods.
Zimbabwe has mainly been using sea ports in Mozambique and South Africa. Studies showed Walvis Bay is the better alternative in that it saves both time and costs.
We are indebted to Namibia for granting us this rare gift. It makes Zimbabwe part of Namibia’s plan to establish the port of Walvis Bay into a regional trade hub, President Mnangagwa during the opening. The dry port is also a mechanism to integrate Namibia and Zimbabwe’s economies and it has mutual development potential for both countries.
The Zimbabwe dry port is also expected to play a beneficial role to other landlocked countries in the SADC (Southern African Development Community). Countries like Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It would also benefit Botswana, but this neighbouring country already operates a dry port facility in the port of Walvis Bay, operated by Sea Rail Botswana.
In his keynote address President Hage Geingob said since the integration of Walvis Bay in 1994, it has been the Namibian Government’s vision to position the port of Walvis Bay as an import and export for countries in the SADC who are not bordering an ocean.
In the days before the official opening, Namibia and Zimbabwe signed seven different bilateral agreements under provisions of the 9th Zimbabwe-Namibia Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation (JPCC). The agreements put in place structures to further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
Some of the trade deals include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on promotion of small to medium enterprises, with particular focus on women.
President Mnangagwa subsequent to the signing of the agreements extended an open invitation to the Namibian private sector to explore business opportunities in Zimbabwe and to learn how these agreements can optimise business in Zimbabwe.