Allexer Namundjembo
Member of Parliament Nelson Kalangula has warned that escalating disruptions affecting Namibian cross-border truck drivers operating in South Africa could have far-reaching economic consequences for Namibia, particularly due to the country’s heavy dependence on South African supply routes and imports.
Kalangula said the logistics and transport sector remains central to Namibia’s economy, as it facilitates the movement of essential goods and maintains the country’s trade linkages with its largest trading partner.
“The logistics and transport sector forms the backbone of Namibia’s economy and trade corridors,” Kalangula said on Wednesday in a statement to the Windhoek Observer.
He said the situation, which has reportedly led some transport operators to withdraw trucks from South African routes due to safety concerns, reflects a growing economic risk that could disrupt supply chains and increase pressure on domestic markets.
“Commercial entities are currently being forced to prematurely withdraw drivers from South African routes, a clear indicator that the status quo is unlivable and economically devastating,” he said.
Kalangula further questioned the level of support provided to transport operators who are absorbing rising operational costs while attempting to secure the safety of their drivers in a volatile environment.
He also warned that any prolonged disruption to trucking logistics could have a direct impact on the availability and cost of goods in Namibia, given the country’s import dependency.
“A halt of trucking logistics has a strong negative impact on the Namibian economy; it is a serious concern,” he said.
Trade between Namibia and South Africa is highly integrated, with South Africa serving as Namibia’s main source of imports and a key destination for exports.
However, the relationship remains structurally imbalanced, with Namibia consistently recording a persistent trade deficit driven by high import volumes of goods and services.
According to monthly trade statistics from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), Namibia’s trade deficit with South Africa typically ranges between N$2.8 billion.
South Africa accounts for about 35% to 40% of Namibia’s total monthly imports, making it the country’s largest single import partner.
The Bank of Namibia (BoN) notes that this dependence extends beyond goods into services, particularly transport, maintenance, and repair services, which further contribute to Namibia’s current account deficit.
Namibia’s export basket to South Africa is largely composed of raw materials and livestock, including non-monetary gold, live animals, beverages such as beer, and meat products.
In contrast, imports from South Africa are dominated by refined petroleum products, motor vehicles, processed foods, civil engineering equipment, and chemical products.
At a macroeconomic level, the Bank of Namibia maintains policies aimed at preserving the 1:1 peg between the Namibia Dollar (NAD) and the South African Rand (ZAR), a key arrangement that facilitates cross-border trade and financial stability.
Both countries are also part of regional economic frameworks such as the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which promote relatively free movement of goods and services across borders.
However, this deep economic integration also exposes Namibia to external shocks.
Analysts note that disruptions in South Africa, ranging from socio-political unrest to transport blockades, can quickly spill over into Namibia, affecting inflation, commodity availability, and supply chain stability due to the country’s reliance on South African transit routes.
Economist Marco Tonateni has said that disruptions to trucking routes between Namibia and South Africa, particularly those linked to xenophobic attacks and transport blockades, represent a serious supply shock to Namibia’s economy due to its heavy reliance on imported goods and cross-border logistics.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Tonateni said any interruption in the movement of trucks along this corridor quickly translates into shortages of essential goods such as fuel, food, pharmaceuticals, and industrial inputs.
“Any disruption along the Namibia–South Africa logistics corridor is effectively a disruption to Namibia’s domestic supply chain,” he said, noting that the country’s import dependence makes it highly vulnerable to external shocks.
He further warned that such disruptions have broader macroeconomic implications, including rising transport costs, higher insurance premiums, and imported inflation, which are ultimately passed on to consumers.
“In a small, import-dependent economy like Namibia, logistics shocks are quickly converted into inflation shocks,” Tonateni said.
He added that prolonged instability along key transport routes also widens the trade deficit and undermines business confidence, as firms are forced to factor corridor risks into their operational planning.
Over time, he said, this could increase the cost of doing business and weaken the efficiency of regional trade integration under SACU and SADC frameworks.
