Staff reporter
PRESIDENT Hage Geingob will be joining his counterpart, President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana, at the Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno Border Post on Friday, 24 February 2023 to launch the use of Identity Documents (IDs) as travel documents between Namibia and Botswana.
The launch will be preceded by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on the Facilitation of Cross-Border Travel Using National Identity Cards. This agreement is the culmination of an initiative by the two Heads of State as part of regional integration.
The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs (MoLHA) in Botswana indicated that, the use of National Identity Cards as travel documents is a first initiative of its kind in the Southern Africa Region (SADC), and will strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
Botswana and Namibia established diplomatic relations in 1990.
The two countries share cultural, historic and family ties and enjoy cordial bilateral relations, largely characterised by the spirit of neighbourliness and goodwill.
Cooperation between the two countries was facilitated through the bilateral frameworks of the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) and the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security (JPCDS).
“This will cover various sectors including agriculture, water, defence and security, as well as transport and logistics. These frameworks of cooparation have since been elevated to a Bi-National Commission (BNC), which is officiated at Heads of State level,” said PRO.
The use of cards will help in economic benefits between these two countries such as, the Trade in Livestock Vaccines
Therefore, it is expected to promote Cultural Heritage where Botswana and Namibia will continue to enjoy and share the same culture, such as: dance, language and traditional customs.
