A levy of 90 US cents per ton will now be charged on all cargo transported by road through Namibia’s key border posts of Katima Mulilo and Ngoma, following the gazetting of new regulations aimed at strengthening regional transport systems.
The measure forms part of efforts by the Namibian government to implement the Walvis Bay–Ndola–Lubumbashi Development Corridor agreement involving Namibia, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The regulations were issued by Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi under the Road Traffic and Transport Act of 1999 and came into effect after publication in the Government Gazette.
Transport operators entering or leaving Namibia are required to pay the levy at the point of crossing and are prohibited from proceeding without proof of payment. Failure to comply constitutes an offence and may result in a fine of up to 8000 Namibian dollars, imprisonment for up to two years, or both.
The Road Fund Administration has been mandated to collect and administer the levy on behalf of the corridor’s Permanent Secretariat. It will retain 15% of the revenue to cover administrative costs, while the balance will be transferred monthly to support the Secretariat’s operations.
Under the procedures, operators must first declare cargo weight to the Namibia Revenue Agency at the border. After verification, they are required to present supporting documentation, including a cross-border permit, and make payment to the Road Fund Administration, which will issue proof of payment.
Drivers must keep proof of payment in their vehicles at all times and present it during inspections. Non-compliance with inspection requirements carries penalties similar to those for non-payment.
The cargo levy is part of broader efforts to operationalise the Walvis Bay–Ndola–Lubumbashi Corridor, which aims to improve trade flows and transport efficiency across the three countries. The agreement was signed in Livingstone, Zambia, in 2010 to facilitate the movement of goods and people and promote socio-economic development along the route.
Meanwhile, the African Development Bank has pledged continued support to Namibia through its Country Strategy Paper 2025–2030, including plans to upgrade the railway line along the corridor to Southern African Development Community standards.
Under the programme, average freight train speeds between Walvis Bay and Tsumeb are expected to increase from about 40–50 kilometres per hour in 2024 to between 60 and 70 kilometres per hour by 2030, while cargo volumes are projected to double from 100 000 tons per month to 200 000 tons over the same period.
