Africa-Press – Botswana. The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi, has confirmed that, as of tomorrow, Batswana and Namibians crossing at Mamuno/Trans-Kalahari Border Post will be at liberty to use national identity cards as travel documents.
“Mamuno Border Post will be the first along Botswana-Namibia borders to commence the use of national identity cards as travel documents,” Ms Mokgethi announced during a media briefing in Gaborone yesterday.
She said Kasane immigration office, Mohembo and Ngoma border posts would follow suite while Dobe border post would follow upon completion of infrastructure.
The minister said through the use of national identity card as travel documents, families would be brought together, while time and cost associated with cross-border travel would be reduced.
“The use of national iIdentity cards for cross-border travel will enhance the momentum for social, economic and regional integration and further promote safe and orderly migration,” she said.
This, the minister said, would become even more impactful on people’s lives as Mamuno/Tran-Kalahari border post attain a full-fledged status of a one stop border post operating on a 24-hour basis.
Minister Mokgethi said the decision would foster social cohesion among the citizen of the two nations, who share profound historical, cultural and economic bonds, in addition to values of democracy, self-determination as a people and the rule of law.
She further said the use of national identity cards would contribute to the objectives of the SADC Treaty, which called on member states to develop policies aimed at the progressive elimination of obstacles to free movement of people, goods and services.
Under the agreement, citizens using national identity cards would be allowed for a period not exceeding 30 days at any given time and not exceed 90 days in a year.
Furthermore, Ms Mokgethi that clarified each traveller would be issued with a machine print out detailing the period of stay, which the traveller must have during the stay.
Asked by the press about the possibility of the same dispensation broadened to other neighbouring countries, Ms Mokgethi said such would require consultations with such states.
The permanent sectary in the ministry, Mr Jimmy Opelo, stated that the two nations were not doing away with passports, as those wishing to stay for more than stipulated period needed passports.
He said travelling using the national identity cards conformed to international travel standards, as movements were still traceable.
The chief state senior counsel, Advocate Thamsanqa Silitshena said there was no agreement with commercial entities such as banks to accept foreign national identity cards as proof during transactions, therefore those wishing to transact must carry passports along.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
