Swakopmund: Botswana Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe emphasized the potential economic benefits of improving transport infrastructure across Africa, highlighting that reducing transport time on roads, ports, and borders could significantly enhance exports by more than 12 percent and raise GDP growth by over 2 percent.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Gaolathe delivered a keynote address at the Effective Communicators Conference (ECC26) in Swakopmund, where he pointed to the Trans-Kalahari Corridor and the Botswana Dry Port at Walvis Bay as prime examples of successful regional integration between Botswana and Namibia. He articulated that these developments serve as tangible proof of regional cooperation, providing Botswana with essential access to the Atlantic through a strategic partnership with Namibia.

Gaolathe reflected on his personal ties with Namibia, recalling how the country offered him his first job and introduced him to influential mentor Hidipo Hamutenya. He also addressed the conference's focus on African storytelling, urging communicators, especially younger professionals, to narrate the continent's stories with diligence and authenticity. He highlighted that while Africa is rich in achievements, it faces a deficit in genuine authorship of its narrative.

He acknowledged the impact of African literary works such as Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" and Ngugi wa Thiong'o's "A Grain of Wheat," advocating for their wider distribution across African educational systems. Gaolathe also spotlighted African culinary treasures like Namibian mopane worms and Ghanaian jollof rice, which he believes should be promoted as internationally recognized brands.

In closing, Gaolathe invoked Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise," calling for African unity and economic collaboration across the continent. He urged the audience to work together towards building a future envisioned by their ancestors and deserved by future generations.

The conference, organized by the Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), will continue until Friday, focusing on the theme "Communication Reconsidered: A driving force for constant progress."