Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi says the Namibia-Botswana agreement on cross-border travel using Identity Cards (IDs) stands as a defining legacy of late President Hage Geingob and a step forward for regional cooperation.
Masisi made these remarks during Geingob’s official memorial service in Windhoek. Geingob died on 4 February and was laid to rest at the Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek.
Masisi said he deeply valued President Geingob’s support as a senior statesman, confidant and trustworthy partner in building the extraordinary partnership of the two countries that people enjoy today.
“We are all the better for having been touched by President Geingob’s influence and huge sacrifices,” he said.
“I recall with fond memory, our numerous meetings and robust exchanges on the challenges facing our people and our resolve to act in unity and solidarity to address the common challenges and achieve the goal of shared prosperity for our peoples. Our leaders’ bilateral meeting, which was meant to be held early in January in Gaborone this year, remains postponed as in his words, ‘because I am unwell young man, but we will meet later after my recovery’.”
In addition, Masisi said he and Geingob shared a common vision and an unwavering determination to achieve higher levels of development for the people and it is through remarkable statesmanship that endeared him to many globally.
“My confidence is firm that our two countries and people will leverage on the solid foundation Dr Geingob built for us to broaden and deepen the relations and strong bonds of friendship that exist between our countries and people,” he said.
In February last year, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Agreement to permit the use of national identity cards from each country as travel documents to cross their borders for stays up to 90 days.
The agreement initially applied to the Trans-Kalahari-Mamuno Border Post.
The development was the result of an initiative by the two Heads of State, Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, and the late former President Geingob, dating back to 2019.
