Botswana’s President, Duma Boko, and Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, have renewed calls for passport-free travel between the two countries, reviving a proposal that had been put on hold following strong opposition in the Gaborone Parliament in 2023.
The two leaders made these statements on Wednesday (22) while attending the signing of 11 memorandums of understanding, including one on immigration cooperation, during Boko’s state visit to Harare.
Mnangagwa stated that the two countries share more than just a diplomatic relationship and advocated for a phased system allowing citizens to use national identification documents instead of passports, starting with border communities and short-term travel.
“The ties between the two countries are not merely diplomatic; they are historical, cultural, and deeply rooted in our common heritage and solidarity, as well as in our shared aspirations for peace, development, and prosperity for our countries and peoples. Although borders separate jurisdictions, our communities—and even our wildlife—continue to move freely.”
The head of state also noted that decisive progress must be made on the proposal to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services. He added that the harmonization of immigration systems, as well as one-stop border checkpoints and digital control platforms, remain priorities.
For his part, Duma Boko stated that Botswana is developing cryptographic national identity cards that will allow travelers to store their credentials on a smartphone, eliminating the need to carry a physical document.
The memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday regarding cooperation on immigration suggests that both governments intend to keep the discussion active, although no formal agreement has yet been reached on travel with identification documents.
Source: ZimLive
