03 Feb 2019

As neighbouring countries that have much in common and areas they could possibly complement each other’s limitations, Botswana and Namibia would be better served by working together towards practically cementing stronger ties.

This was said by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi while welcoming his Namibian counterpart, Dr Hage Geingob to the Office of the President on February 1.

Dr Geingob, who was in the country on a working visit to the headquarters of the regional body he currently chairs, (SADC), paid a courtesy call on President Masisi and the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to greater cooperation.

“Our countries have already laid a good framework for cooperation. If you consider the profile of our economies, there is a lot we can derive from each other. Our countries are members of SADC and SACU (Southern African Customs Unions), we both have industries such as the beef sector and mineral exploitation, in particular diamonds, where we could partner to achieve greater benefit in the global markets,” Dr Masisi stated.

He said in areas of trade, where one country is stronger and the other weaker, mutually beneficial partnerships could also be explored to complement each other and address scarcity, citing a commodity such as fish, which is abundant in Namibia, but scarce in Botswana.

“We need to further explore all areas of cooperation in trade, communications and cultural systems, and with a road and proposed rail network connecting us, there is potential for us to achieve better relations for common benefit,” Dr Masisi elucidated.

Adding his worth, Dr Geingob said soon after President Masisi was inaugurated, he paid a visit to Namibia and expressed a ‘deep desire to strengthen relations’ between the two countries, something he said was much welcome in Windhoek.

“The free movement of both goods and people is very much a possibility between our two countries. 

Through availing the dry port facility, we have assisted Botswana to have access to the sea. 

This is part of the corridor concept where we give our landlocked counterparts access trade routes,” Dr Geingob said.

He further added that the issue of the repatriation of Caprivi refugees in Botswana was one the two countries had been working on along with international organisations, including the United Nations.

Dr Geingob said Namibia believed that African countries should ensure national stability that would avoid their citizens becoming refugees elsewhere, adding that his country was in a position to welcome and reintegrate returning exiles.

President Geingob took over the baton of SADC chair during the regional body’s 38^th Summit of Heads of States and Government that was held in Windhoek, Namibia in 2018, taking over from South African president, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa. Ends