10K jobs expected in first phase of Trans Kalahari Railway
The Trans Kalahari Railway (TKR) project is set to transform regional trade by unlocking Southern Africa’s mineral potential, enhancing connectivity, and providing a reliable gateway to global markets.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Noah Salakae described the project as a long-held dream now within reach through unified political will and meticulous technical planning.
“We are at the apex of turning our dream into reality for generations yet unborn,” he told a Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting with his Namibian counterpart.
Salakae credited Presidents Duma Boko of Botswana and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia for prioritising the project, saying their leadership has inspired cross-border teams to overcome
regulatory, environmental, and procurement hurdles.
He emphasised that the TKR is more than steel tracks, calling it a monument to historical solidarity and a reversal of colonial strategies masterminded by Bismarck in 1884 that once disconnected Africans from opportunity.
The minister noted that the corridor is expected to employ about 6,000 Batswana and 4,000 Namibians in its first phase. “Batswana want this corridor. Namibians want this corridor. It is for us to make it happen in honour of ordinary citizens,” he said.
Salakae urged that construction timelines be announced before December 2026, stressing that the people are eager for progress. “They yearn for a logistics system that will put food on their table,” he added.