Access to southern African countries improved

The leaders of Botswana, South Africa and Namibia will meet this week to open the Mata tourist access facility, which is set to make travel between the three nations easier.

Botswana's president Festus Mogae will host South African leader Thabo Mbeki and Namibia's Hifikepunye Pohamba to open the border crossing, which is situated in the Kgalagadi wildlife park.

This is the point where borders from all three nations meet, providing a single location where travellers can move between the countries, AFP News reports.

Botswana government spokesman Tiro Kganela said: "Mata will enable tourists to travel between the three countries via shorter routes and through efficient and convenient access/border control facilities."

Mr Kganela also stressed the importance of the crossing ahead of the Fifa World Cup in 2010, as many visitors will welcome the opportunity to travel to countries other than South Africa, the host nation.

"South Africa made a commitment that the World Cup will be an African event," he said.

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