- Mosetse -Zambia railway to promote trade, economic growth and regional logistics efficiency
Botswana and Namibia recently held a Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting in Kasane to deliberate on the progress and strategic direction of the Mosetse-Kazungula-Livingstone Railway Link Project. The meeting also underscored the importance of the project on facilitating trade, promoting economic growth, and improving regional logistics efficiency.
The meeting was the first since the signing of the Bilateral Agreement between Botswana and Zambia in March 2024 that sought to sponsor a bankable feasibility study and construction of the railway line from Mosetse in Botswana to Livingstone in Zambia through the Kazungula Bridge.
Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae said they are pinning great expectations on the direct link from Mosetse to Livingstone via Kazungula and on the feasibility study which was presented during the meeting to provide guidance and clarity on how to go about building the infrastructure, the bridges that will determine how connected the two nations’ economies are.
Salakae noted that Botswana is fully committed to ensuring that the project becomes a success, adding that they will work together with Zambia to ensure its technical, financial, and logistical viability is discussed and a logical conclusion reached.
‘‘As Minister, I have taken time to familiarise myself with the underlying economics. I am acutely aware that a railway of this scale, with estimated infrastructure costs of USD 1.5 billion and traction investments of over USD 130 million cannot be sustained unless it carries in the region of 7.5 million tons of freight annually. Our existing road traffic across Kazungula totals around 3.1 million tonnes per year. So we are not starting from zero but we are not yet where we need to be,’’ he said.
He further highlighted that at present, Botswana Railways transports just over 1 million tonnes of freight per year, a commendable increase from the previous year but still far below the levels the new corridor would demand. Salakae added that this emphasize the need for deliberate cargo mobilisation, operational scaling, and logistics modernisation if Botswana Railways is to be ready for this transformational opportunity.
Salakae revealed that their expectations of the feasibility study include among others ability to assess realistic modal shift potential, not theoretical best-case scenarios. He indicated that the feasibility study must provide a clear traffic development strategy, including cargo diversification and regional integration beyond Botswana and Zambia.
‘‘It must offer bankable financial modelling, including PPP options and smart rolling stock strategies, and it must be honest about the risks, as well as the transformative potential,’’ he said.
For his part, Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Museba Tayali said that the project is poised to unlock immense potential, as it will facilitate trade, enhance connectivity, and create new opportunities for businesses and communities across both our nations. He noted that it will serve as a critical transport infrastructure, bolstering our economies and strengthening the bonds between Zambia and Botswana, and indeed, the wider SADC region.
