Botswana and Namibia are set to scrap the requirement for travellers from either country to carry passports while crossing their common border, a senior official announced late Monday.
Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs permanent secretary Rule Opelo said the neighbours are set to sign a memorandum of agreement that would “permit the use of national identity cards for the two countries as travel documents to cross their borders.”
“The signing of the Agreement will take place on Friday 24 February, 2023 at Mamuno/Trans-Kalahari border post,” Opelo said in a statement.
He said the development was the culmination of an initiative agreed by President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his Namibian counterpart Hage Geingob.
“It is a clear demonstration of their unwavering commitment to implement a uniquely progressive aspect of the strategy of bilateral cooperation between the two countries,” the official said.
He added: “The agreement will thus serve to eliminate barriers to the free movement of people, goods and services, thereby strengthening trade between the two countries.”
He said the pact ties in with commitments by members of the Southern African Development Community to progressively eliminate obstacles to free movement of people, goods and services.
The development is expected to positively impact the lives of people as the two countries prepare to launch a one-stop border post at Mamuno/Trans-Kalahari border post later this year.
“It will also foster social cohesion among the citizens of the two nations, who share profound historical, cultural and economic bonds, in addition to the values of democracy, self-determination as a people, human rights, peace, rule of law, and good governance, among others.”
JN/APA