Botswana and Namibia have reached a major milestone in the long-awaited Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) Project following the completion and formal handover of the project’s feasibility study, paving the way for the next phase of implementation.
Addressing delegates during the recent Joint Ministerial Committee meeting, Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae, described the completion of the feasibility study as the beginning of a transformative journey for the two neighbouring countries.
Salakae said the railway project has the potential to reshape Southern Africa’s transport and logistics landscape by creating a direct heavy-haul rail corridor linking Botswana to Namibia’s Port of Walvis Bay. He said the corridor will improve access to international markets, reduce transport costs, strengthen regional trade and unlock opportunities in mining, agriculture, manufacturing and logistics.
Salakae noted that the frequent engagements between Botswana and Namibia over the past year had raised public expectations that construction would soon begin.”My dream is that it commences in my lifetime,” Salakae said, expressing hope that before the end of 2026 both governments would announce clear timelines for the commencement of construction.
The first phase of the project is expected to create approximately 10,000 jobs, including about 6,000 positions for Batswana and 4,000 for Namibians, providing a significant boost to employment and economic development in both countries.
Meanwhile, Namibia’s Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, said the completion of the feasibility study marks an important achievement but stressed that the immediate focus should be on reviewing the study’s recommendations, securing financing, adopting transparent procurement processes and ensuring continuous engagement with communities along the railway corridor.
The Trans-Kalahari Railway is expected to become one of Southern Africa’s most significant infrastructure projects, strengthening regional integration in line with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) infrastructure agenda and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Both Botswana and Namibia have reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating implementation of the multi-billion pula railway project.
