Walvis Bay/Zambia route to shorten by 400 km

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Walvis Bay

THE export route from Walvis Bay to the Copperbelt, Zambia’s copper mining hub will be shorter by 400km following plans by the Zambian government to construct a road from the Namibian border to the Copperbelt.

The Walvis Bay Corridor Group said yesterday that during a recent meeting held in Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Road Development Agency of Zambia announced the construction of the Sesheke-Mulobezi-Kaoma-Copperbelt road, which once completed, will reduce the distance from 1 200km to 800km between Sesheke and the Copperbelt which borders Congo’s mineral rich Katanga Province.

“This significant infrastructure milestone will lead to even shorter transit times which will result in the reduction of costs and ultimately an increase in trade,” the Group said in a statement.

Furthermore, the Group said the route offers immense opportunities for importers and exporters since it provides an already reliable and shorter transit passage between the inland and the overseas market and is evident that it has become a viable alternative to other traditional routes in the region.

Johny Smith, the Group chief executive officer noted that cargo volumes have doubled because importers and exporters are increasingly realising the benefits of using the port of Walvis Bay. He commended the governments of the DRC, Namibia and Zambia for the progress they have made to improve infrastructure, facilities and the economic value of the respective countries.

 

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