Africa-Press – Mauritius. Botswana and Namibia have been encouraged to leverage on digital technologies to entrench the connection between them. “We could through the use of digital technology enhance the integration of our currencies.
We could through the use of digital technology with all the safety and security features required enhance the integration, including the streamlining and making costs cheaper of our aviation authorities.
We could cause that our medical regulatory authorities fuse as one and make cost of doing business easier and cheaper. ” This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi when launching the use of national identity cards as travelling documents between the two countries at Mamuno Border Post on Friday.
“The authorisation of the use of national identity documents to cross national borders is a clear demonstration of our steadfast commitment to promote relations between our countries and to foster social cohesion among our citizens as well as to enhance regional cooperation and integration,” President Masisi said Friday.
The decision, he said, reflected what responsible, responsive and progressive governments were capable of. “It is therefore highly symbolic that we are meeting at the gateway of our flagship highway, the Trans Kalahari corridor which connects our countries, to mark a significant milestone in the trajectory of our relations,” he said.
President Masisi clarified that the cards would be used at the four border posts of Mamuno, Mohembo, Ngoma and Kasane while plans were afoot for adding Dobe Border Post in the next financial year.
He revealed that negotiations were ongoing to extend Mamuno Border Post operations to 24 hours to tap into opportunities between the two countries. For his part, President Dr Hage Geingob said the event marked a historic milestone in Botswana/Namibia relations.
He noted that the two counties shared an over 1 500 kilometre borderline with communities on either side speaking the same languages and sharing common cultures.
“It makes perfect sense that we should facilitate an uncomplicated means of travel between our respective communities. This is a first of a kind in this continent.
We are taking the first step towards realisation of the SADC protocol on the facilitation of movement of persons, not only goods, but persons,” said President Geingob.
He urged relevant government officials to ensure that citizens benefitted from the arrangement. “The arrangement has been done for the convenience of our citizens,” he said.
President Geingob expressed the hope that the development would inspire other African countries to attain continental integration and achieve a peaceful and prosperous Africa as espoused in its Agenda 2063.
Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi said the two governments had been working on formalising the arrangement for a couple of years. She said the project takeoff was affected by the outbreak of COVID-19.
“This is without doubt a monumental achievement which will ease movement and greatly impact on the lives of people of our two countries and the region at large,” she said.
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