Story by John Nhandara
ZIMBABWE continues to explore ways of capacitating the Walvis Bay dry port so as to increase regional trade.
A delegation led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Joy Makumbe this week visited the Walvis Bay dry port in Namibia.
The delegation sought to assess progress and find ways of enhancing trade at the dry port which is a strategic gateway to the Atlantic Ocean and markets in Europe, North and South America as well as West Africa.
“We are here to make sure this dry port is capacitated because we need to see more activity happening in this place.so we made resolutions that we are going to implement such that in the coming months you will see more activity,” said Engineer Makumbe.
The Airports Company of Zimbabwe and the National Handling Services pledged to collaborate in-order to fully operationalise the dry port with plans already underway to capitalise and equip the dry port.
“As public entities we are working together to champion investments at this dry port so that it contributes significantly to the economic development of the country. This port is going to increase imports and exports because we have a gateway to the world. The plan is also to expand so that it involves air cargo lofting from this place,” said Airports Company of Zimbabwe CEO, Mr Tawanda Gusha.
“By mid-year this year we would have capacitated the dry port to ensure it is efficient,” said National Handling Services CEO, Godknows Marawanyika.
The delegation also exchanged notes with other counterparts from Zambia, Botswana and Namibia on possible areas of improving efficiency at the dry port.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Namibia Ambassador Melody Chaurura said, “We are happy with consultative meetings we had, the lessons we learnt from other dry ports in Zambia, Botswana and Namport working together we will achieve that which we have set our ourselves.”
The Walvis Bay dry port was launched in 2019 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to provide a cheaper and alternative gateway to the Atlantic Ocean and enhance regional and international trade
