By:Uakutra Kambaekua, Ngurije Katusuva
Experts say trade between Namibia and Botswana will improve as the two countries are set to sign a memorandum of understanding to permit the use of national identity cards as travel documents to cross their borders.
This will be done to remove barriers to Africans’ freedom of movement.
The signing of the agreement will take place on Friday 23, at the Mamuno/Trans-Kalahari border post.
A statement issued by Botswana’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs Jimmy Opelo stated that this development emanated from the initiative by President Hage Geingob and his Botswana counterpart Mokweetsi Masisi in 2019.
Hospitality Association of Namibia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gitta Paetzold says that this will improve tourism between the two countries.
“Citizens of the two countries will not need sit or wait for long days in applying for travelling documents or usage of passports.The memorandum will attract tourists to Namibia from Botswana,” Paetzold said.
Salomo Hei, Chairperson of the NSA board and interim Managing Director of Agro Marketing And Trade Agency (AMTA) argued that the move will result in high trading and business development between the countries.
Namibia’s exports to Botswana was US$448.41 million (N$8 billion) during 2020, according to global statistics.
“This will make it easier for fellow Namibians mostly entrepreneurs to also invest in Botswana or vice versa, skills development and most importantly education.”
International relations expert Marius Kundumo said the two countries are already bound by relatives from each side of the borders. “This will also make it easier for families to unite and integrate. Most Namibians are related to people from Botswana. In the SADC treaty there are cultural affinities and this is what the organisation has promised,”he said.
According to him, the move can be an example to other neighbouring countries to achieve the same goal in the future for free movement of people and goods.
Opelo said the agreement demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the two governments in implementing a uniquely progressive aspect of the strategy of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“The agreement will thus serve to eliminate barriers to the free movement of people, goods, and services thereby strengthening trade between the two neighbouring countries,”he said.
“As member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), this agreement between Botswana and Namibia will also contribute to the objective of the SADC treaty which calls on SADC member states to develop policies aimed at the progressive elimination of obstacles to the free movement of people, goods and services.”
Additionally, Opelo noted that the use of national identity cards for cross-border travel will enhance the momentum for economic and regional integration and further promote safe and orderly migration.
“This development will become even more impactful on people’s lives as Mamuno/Trans-Kalahari border post attains a full-fledged status of a one-stop border post operating on a 24-hour basis currently,” he added.
The MOU will further foster social cohesion among the citizen 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, amongst others.
Namibia and Botswana’s agreement forms part of the broader African Agenda 2063 which aims to remove barriers to Africans’ freedom of movement, employment, and residence on their continent, which is the free mobility of Africans within it.
The initiative also aims to change Africa’s laws, which remain largely restrictive on the movement of people regardless of political vows to remove borders.