On 24 October 2025, the Botswana Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae, presented to Parliament the infrastructure sector chapter of the National Development Plan (NDP).
According to the presentation, the infrastructure sector has experienced a decline in employment, falling from 4% in 2021 to 2.7% in 2023, a decrease of 1.3 percentage points in the transport and logistics sub-sector. The sector continues to face project implementation challenges, which have affected the timely provision of services.
The government’s objective is to address these challenges and deliver modern, transformed infrastructure to communities. Botswana aims to become a premier regional hub for trade, travel, and investment through the development of integrated, world-class infrastructure that supports resource security, promotes sustainable economic diversification, and enhances connectivity to regional and global markets.
The country has recorded a decline in rail freight volumes, driven by reduced trade activity and increased competition from road transport. Since 2015, imports and exports have dropped from peak volumes of 843,000 tonnes and 738,000 tonnes, respectively. The reduction is attributed to rail infrastructure limitations and competition from road transport.
Botswana’s railway line from Ramatlabama to the Varakaranga Border with Zimbabwe has deteriorated over time, leading to higher maintenance costs. To improve regional connectivity, the government plans to expand the rail network through several projects under the National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12), with most to be implemented via Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Key projects include the Mmamabula–Lephalale Rail Link, which will connect Botswana to South Africa’s rail network at Lephalale and facilitate coal exports through the Richards Bay port. Another initiative, the Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone Rail Link, aims to enhance the movement of goods between Botswana and Zambia, reducing transit times and improving logistics along the North-South Corridor.
The Trans-Kalahari Rail (TKR) project is also expected to deliver economic benefits to Botswana, Namibia, and the wider Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Additionally, the government intends to upgrade the Ramatlabama–Varakaranga Border line and rehabilitate the Zimbabwe rail line to support higher axle loads, improve turnaround times, and boost freight efficiency.
Botswana currently relies on a 32,500 km road network, of which 10,725 km are tarred. The limited road coverage has created bottlenecks affecting sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and mining by restricting production and increasing transport costs.
The government has emphasised the need for legal and regulatory reforms to improve implementation efficiency, transparency, and long-term sustainability in the transport sector. A key reform under consideration is the separation of rail infrastructure management from rail operations, as the existing legislation only allows Botswana Railways to act as the sole rail operator.
Under the proposed framework, Botswana Railways would retain ownership of infrastructure while allowing multiple operators to provide rail services. This separation is expected to enhance efficiency through competition and attract investment in both infrastructure and rolling stock.
Written for Railways Africa by Chamwe Kaira
