Africa-Press – Namibia. Senior officials from Namibia and Botswana on Monday opened the second session of the Botswana-Namibia Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Windhoek, where discussions focused on how both countries can jointly deliver in the areas of jobs, services, trade and regional integration.
For this year, the Bi-National Commission is placing special emphasis on ensuring that the ideas and policy issues discussed do not only remain confined to conference rooms, but results in tangible changes that will positively impact the lives of Namibians and Batswana.
Ambassador Thuso Godson Ramodimoosi, Permanent Secretary in Botswana’s Ministry of International Relations, and his Namibian counterpart, Executive Director Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, co-chaired the opening of the senior officials’ segment of the BNC, which runs until Friday at the Hilton Hotel.
The two officials stressed that the BNC must move beyond expressions of goodwill to finalising agreements and addressing real challenges that improve the lives of ordinary citizens, and not become, as one delegate put it, “a talk show between governments.”
Ramodimoosi, leading the Botswana delegation, highlighted the momentum created by recent high-level visits.
Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah travelled to Gaborone in May, shortly after her inauguration, while Botswana’s President Duma Boko attended her inauguration in Windhoek in March.
According to him, these early exchanges underscored “the deep-rooted bonds of friendship, solidarity and fruitful cooperation” between the neighbours.
But he warned against complacency, saying senior officials had a duty to confront sticking points.
“We must resolve the problematic issues that hinder the smooth implementation of the BNC. Let us not delegate work to our principals,” he said. He pressed for the swift conclusion of outstanding Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and agreements, noting that several could be ready for signing during the current session.
Importantly, he stressed that citizens should see clear benefits from the BNC’s work. “The BNC should never be a talk show between our respective governments.”
On her part, Nghipondoka-Robiati echoed the call to action, urging the various technical committees to produce outcome documents that will guide ministers later this week. She said the joint work must translate into “meaningful change in the lives of our citizens.”
Namibia, she noted, is currently prioritising sectors such as agriculture, youth empowerment and job creation, education, creative industries, health, housing and sanitation.
Shared values
Increasing intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and strengthening regional infrastructure and connectivity are also at the top of the agenda.
“Our joint efforts to promote sustainable development for our respective people should be a priority. The onus is on us as senior officials to ensure our deliberations yield tangible results”, she said.
The meeting will break into four committees – Political, Diplomatic and Legal; Economic; Social; and Defence and Security – before consolidating outcomes into draft minutes and a joint communiqué.
Both co-chairs situated their bilateral talks within wider regional and global dynamics. Ramodimoosi pointed to the recent SADC summit in Madagascar, which focused on industrialisation, food security, climate resilience and energy transition, and to the United Nations’ 80th anniversary session that debated global conflicts and reforms.
For Namibia, Nghipondoka-Robiati framed the session as an opportunity to reinforce the “enduring historical, socio-economic, cultural and familial connections” between the two neighbours.
The BNC was established to strengthen cooperation between Namibia and Botswana across multiple sectors. Officials from both countries said this week’s session is a chance to take stock since the mid-term review in July 2024, while laying the groundwork for ministerial decisions later this week and eventually for endorsement by the two Heads of States.
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