6 Jun 2025
Cross-border agencies meet in Livingstone to accelerate OSBP implementation and strengthen regional integration between Namibia and Zambia.
The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) is leading a delegation of Namibian border agencies in Livingstone, Zambia, for high-level discussions focused on the establishment of a One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Katima Mulilo.
The proposed OSBP aims to streamline cross-border operations between Namibia and Zambia by consolidating customs and immigration procedures. The initiative is expected to enhance trade facilitation, reduce transit times, and improve regional economic integration.
Willbroad Poniso, NamRA’s Head of Customs and Excise, emphasized the urgency of the project.
“The establishment of the OSBP at Katima Mulilo is no longer a conceptual ambition but a strategic imperative,” Poniso said, urging all stakeholders to accelerate implementation efforts.
Derrick Sikombe, Assistant Director in the Department of Domestic Trade and Commerce at Zambia’s Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, said the project represents more than physical infrastructure.
“Katima Mulilo OSBP is more than just infrastructure, but a catalyst for trade, economic growth and deeper regional integration,” Sikombe said. “The efficiency of the OSBP’s operations will have a direct impact on cross-border mobility, business competitiveness, and the livelihoods of communities in the region.”
Namibian institutions represented in the talks include the Roads Authority, Roads Fund Administration, Namibia Agronomic Board, Zambezi Regional Council, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, and the Ministry of International Relations and Trade.