By: Nghiinomenwa Erastus
The new Covid-19 regulations will reduce the cost of doing business, increase efficiency in trade facilitation, explained the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG).
In a statement released last week, the trade facilitator welcomed the country’s Ministry of Health and Social Services change last week.
The health ministry made two changes to the regulations pertaining the combating the spread of the virus.
The changes are that fully vaccinated Namibians, truck drivers and permanent residents will no longer be required to present a negative PCR test result upon entry into Namibia.
The mentioned categories of people can enter the country with a valid and authentic Vaccination Card.
For all other categories of travellers, including truck drivers who are not fully vaccinated, the validity of a negative PCR Covid-19 test results remains 72 hours from the time of the specimen collection to the time the individual presents themself at the point of entry into Namibia.
Thirdly, Namibia citizens and permanent residence permit holders who present positive PCR test results at entry points may be allowed to proceed to the final destination.
They will only be subjected to isolation at their own cost or to supervised home isolation provided they have obtained approval for such supervised home isolation from the responsible health minister official.
As a member of the National Covid-19 Points of Entry Pillar, representing the transport industry, the WBCG has been actively involved in re-engineering Covid-19 protocols and regulations.
This is to ensure that tailored guidelines are deployed for the industry.
The WBCG takes pride in the changes explaining that it “will result in truckers spending less time at the border resulting in the improvement of border efficiency and ensuring the seamless movement of people and goods along the Walvis Bay Corridors”.
WBCG sees the implementation of the new Covid-19 regulations in Namibia as a breakthrough, a new benchmark, and the operationalization of best practices as a move in a positive direction not only for the transport and logistics sector but also for a win the business community in general.
The body urges all SADC member states to reciprocate this best practice.
Furthermore, the WBCG vowed to continue to advocate for developing priority transport infrastructure, conducive policies, and regulations with a core focus on trade facilitation.
This will be through continued promoting, marketing and managing the Walvis Bay Corridors for safe, efficient and cost-effective transport and logistics solutions.
In 2020, the WBCG became one of the first non-profit organizations to collaborate with MoHSS on the national response on Covid-19.
In recognition of the Group’s Wellness Service commitment to the transport industry, the Health Ministry partnered with the WBCG on the national Covid-19 vaccination campaign in September 2021.
This will also ensure that long-distance truck drivers access Covid-19 vaccines along the Walvis Bay Corridors.
The national Covid-19 vaccination campaign aims to create awareness and encourage more people to get vaccinated for the country to achieve herd immunity.
In support of this campaign, the WBCG Wellness Service has rolled out Covid-19 vaccinations at its Roadside Wellness clinics in Windhoek, Gobabis, Otjiwarongo, Katima Mulilo and Oshikango.
As of December 2021, 4273 people have been vaccinated countrywide, of which 422 are long-distance truck drivers.
The acting manager for communication, Maria Paulus, highlighted that we encourage all transport companies to promote Covid-19 vaccination for the drivers with the revised guidelines.
She said this would ensure that drivers seamlessly continue to transport cargo into Namibia while hoping for a reciprocal approach by other member states within SADC and eventually Africa.
Paulus added that the Group would keep advocating for removing any form of non-tariff barriers aspires to position Namibia as the Logistics Hub for Southern Africa.
The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) plays a crucial role in improving trade facilitation in the SADC region and encouraging economic growth by advocating for removing non-tariff barriers at the borders. Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na
