Vietnam-Botswana border security improved

Albertina Nakale

Aron Mushaukwa

KATIMA MULILO – Minister of International Relations Peya Mushelenga said it was gratifying to note that the overall security situation along the common border between Namibia and Botswana had improved significantly and that peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness had continued to prevail.

Mushelenga made the remarks in Katima Mulilo yesterday during a follow-up visit with his Botswana Foreign Affairs counterpart, Lemogang Kwape, where a signing ceremony of a twinning agreement between the Zambezi Regional Council and the Chobe District in Kasane was held.

Over the years, there have been reports of cross-border challenges from communities living along the Namibia-Botswana border, with both nations urging their citizens to foster peaceful coexistence and fruitful cooperation.

The agreement aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation stipulated in Article 8 of the Border Treaty between the two nations in the areas of security, exploration and exploitation of shared natural resources.

“However, this does not mean that there are no incidents at all, which occur sporadically. A situation where our people live in fear creates an unsustainable environment, which prevents the establishment of a climate conducive to peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness. In this context, this occasion provides us with a crucial platform to jointly address our respective communities and stakeholders and highlight the importance of peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness,” Mushelenga noted.

While cordial relations persist at the highest level, Mushelenga argues that there is an urgent need to consolidate these ties at the grassroots level, particularly to address cross-border concerns faced by communities along the shared riverine border.

“The re-emergence of avoidable tensions poses a risk to the progress achieved so far, highlighting the need to ensure the safety of ordinary citizens interacting with shared natural resources along the common riverine border. This responsibility rests on our shoulders as leaders to find lasting solutions and bring the issue to a point where advanced harmony becomes the natural order,” Mushelenga stressed.

He is convinced that the peoples of Botswana and Namibia are undeniably a shared community, united by their common culture and heritage. Throughout their existence, he said, they have relied on shared resources, fostering a relationship of mutual interdependence. The friendly bilateral relations between Namibia and Botswana are a natural outcome of this historical connection.

Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the recently concluded Joint Civil-Military Community Sensitization Campaign for communities along the borders, which took place from 8 to 16 July 2024, as an example of common goals for both nations in pursuit of problem-solving. The newly established Civil-Military Cooperation Scheme (CIMIC) aims to educate communities on critical issues such as illegal fishing, border crossings, poaching, and smuggling of firearms, drugs, and illicit goods. The campaign commenced in both the Zambezi region and Chobe district of Botswana and was set out with optimism that it will continue to yield positive results and contribute to the overall collaboration and prosperity of both regions.

He further stated that Namibia aims to build peaceful and harmonious relations with its neighbours by further strengthening the existing strong ties of friendship and solidarity, fostering closer people-to-people exchanges and enhancing trade, investment and infrastructure development. All this is done within the spirit of regional integration, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the achievement of the AU Agenda 2063, “The Africa We Want”.

Meanwhile, Kwape said there have been huge improvements in the region. He said the implementation of the use of national ID cards to cross borders has been improved.

“Communities living along the border frequently visit their families and engage in economic activities on both sides. Since our citizens started using national identity cards to cross the border, the use of border passes has decreased considerably, so much so that we will have to abolish their use in our mission next month. The use of identity cards, the operation of the one-stop border post and the 24-hour border crossing have made Namibia and Botswana pioneers on the African continent,” said the Botswana Foreign Minister.

Kwape reaffirmed the great importance that Botswana attaches to the relations between the two sister countries. “Botswana is as committed as a pig to its breakfast. These relations are reflected in the close historical, cultural and community ties of our people, and the Chobe District and Zambezi Region are no exception. We are one people and we will remain one people. Our two communities share national resources on which they depend for their daily sustenance. It is therefore their responsibility to protect and conserve natural resources for prosperity,” he stressed.

The agreement scheduled to be signed in Kasane will focus on local economic development, environment, waste management, shared river resources, culture and sports, not only enhancing cooperation between the two regional councils but also fostering village-to-village links and cooperation between traditional authorities.

For years, residents of the Zambezi region, situated along the Chobe and Kwando rivers, have lived in fear due to alleged killings, harassment and cross-border human rights violations by the Botswana Defence Forces.

However, Zambezi Governor Lawrence Sampofu said residents now feel safe.

“Our communities along our borders now feel a little safer, following the deployment of our troops, but they still live in fear of harassment and threats from the BDF. They will now be free to fish, pick lilies, cut grass for homes and to make mats and brooms, reeds for yards and decorations, and gather all kinds of fruits along the rivers,” Sampofu said.

[email protected]