The Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) project between Namibia and Botswana has entered a new phase, with both governments shifting focus to securing private sector investment, finalising financial models, and ensuring regulatory and operational readiness.
Speaking at a Joint Ministerial Committee meeting on the project in Maun, Botswana, Namibia’s Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, said the initial stages had been government-led but stressed that long-term success would require private sector participation.
“We are now moving toward the next phase, securing private sector investment, finalising financial models, and ensuring regulatory and operational readiness. Both governments remain committed to delivering this project transparently through a public-private partnership that brings tangible value to our nations. At the same time, sustainability must be central to every stage of the project,” Nekundi said.
He noted that key milestones had already been achieved, including clearing nine years of audit reports and approving policies critical for smooth implementation, which would help eliminate potential delays.
Nekundi added that environmental sustainability remained a priority, with strict compliance to Namibian and Botswana laws, alongside continuous monitoring and contractor oversight.
“Environmental considerations will be incorporated in the design, development, and implementation phases to ensure the railway is responsibly executed,” he said.
Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae, described the TKR as a transformative regional project that would boost trade, attract investment, and stimulate economic growth across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“We can imagine a future where the TKR corridor sustains a combined population of over 250,000 people, living in well-planned communities. A future where the railway is the spine of a new economic zone, integrating agriculture, mining, manufacturing, logistics, and tourism. This is our opportunity to rewrite history, to create an asset whose impact will be felt for generations,” Salakae said.
