Transport ministers from three Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states convened at the Wenela Border Post in the Zambezi region on Wednesday to officially inaugurate the user pays principle (UPP) funding model. This innovative funding mechanism is specifically designed to enhance fairness and efficiency within regional transport operations. The UPP mandates that direct users bear the cost of services, thereby reducing reliance on general taxation or broad cost-spreading, and is widely acknowledged as a highly effective method for achieving cost recovery.

The distinguished delegation at the launch was led by Namibia's deputy minister of works and transport, Hans Haikali, Zambia's minister of transport and logistics, Frank Tayali, and the Democratic Republic of Congo's deputy prime minister and minister of transport, communications and roads, Jean-Pierre Bemba. The gathering also provided an opportunity to reflect on the foundational ideals of the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lumbumbashi Agreement, which was initially signed in Zambia back in 2010.

In his address, Deputy Minister Haikali underscored the critical importance of the corridor management institution, which is composed of these participating countries. He highlighted its vital role in streamlining the movement of goods, services, and individuals by "simplifying and harmonising the requirements and controls that govern the movements of goods and persons." Among the significant achievements noted by Haikali were the successful implementation of 24-hour operations at the Wenela Border Post and the establishment of a dedicated secretariat. This secretariat is tasked with coordinating and facilitating efforts to lower trade barriers, revise existing trade rules, and ultimately improve the export capabilities of SADC nations and the wider African continent.

The Zambezi region plays a pivotal role as a strategic gateway to several landlocked nations, offering an essential link that underpins the 2010 agreement. Haikali further elaborated on the region's economic significance, stating that more than 60% of the cargo handled at the Walvis Bay Port currently transits through the Zambezi region. The newly launched User Pays Principle (UPP) will be instrumental in funding the operations of the secretariat, thereby ensuring its sustainability and effectiveness.

Haikali emphasized the transformative potential of the UPP, stating, "This is the only way that the three member states can fast-track deeper regional integration, which is key for economic development." Despite the notable progress and achievements, he acknowledged that several constraints still persist. These include the necessity for establishing a one-stop border post at the Katima Mulilo Border Post, the development and implementation of an integrated bond guarantee system, and the creation of modern truck ports. These critical projects, Haikali concluded, will form the primary agenda and first set of tasks to be meticulously implemented by the newly formed secretariat.