AfCFTA Expectations and Border-Level Implementation Challenges in Southern Africa

This paper examines how individuals at a major Southern African border point perceive the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It draws on 23 interviews with customs officers, traders, transporters, and institutional officials to explore their expectations and the conditions shaping readiness at the Oshikango crossing between Namibia and Angola. The findings show that cross-border trade supports local livelihoods; however, most participants were unfamiliar with the AfCFTA beyond what they had heard in general news. Their daily work is shaped by limited facilities, slow procedures, language challenges, and unclear permit rules. Many worried about cheaper imports. The study argues that clearer communication, improved infrastructure, and better coordination between agencies are essential for meaningful progress.