Faith Nyasuguta
Namibia and Zambia are set to make cross-border travel easier for their citizens by scrapping passport requirements and allowing the use of national identity cards instead. The move, announced during Zambia’s 59th Independence Day celebrations in Windhoek, marks a major shift in regional mobility within Southern Africa.
Namibia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Dr Albert Kawana, broke the news at the event, stating that both governments are working closely to finalize the process. “Very soon, Zambian citizens will be able to enter Namibia using only their ID cards. We are working to abolish the use of passports between our countries,” Dr Kawana said.
This planned agreement follows a similar arrangement that Namibia implemented with Botswana in early 2023. That deal allowed citizens from both nations to cross borders using only their national ID cards, making Namibia and Botswana the first countries in Southern Africa to embrace this level of free movement.
Zambia and Namibia’s upcoming policy is seen as a step forward in promoting deeper regional integration, easing travel for businesspeople, tourists, students, and families living in border communities. Both governments believe that removing the passport requirement will strengthen their long-standing diplomatic and economic ties.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Stephen Katuka, also emphasized the deep historical connections between the two nations. He recalled how Zambia supported Namibia during its liberation struggle, and now, decades later, both countries are working together to ease the lives of their citizens through smart, cooperative policies.
In addition to the ID travel agreement, Namibia and Zambia have agreed to allow convicted nationals to serve the remainder of their prison sentences in their home countries. This decision is part of a wider collaboration between the two governments to address legal and human rights concerns while maintaining bilateral goodwill.
The use of ID cards for travel is expected to benefit local communities on both sides of the border. Residents in towns like Katima Mulilo in Namibia and Sesheke in Zambia often travel across the border for trade, family visits, and cultural events. Under the new policy, they will be able to move more freely, without needing to apply for or carry a passport.
From a broader perspective, this initiative supports the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) vision for freer movement across the region. If successful, the Zambia-Namibia model could encourage other countries in the region to adopt similar policies, creating a more connected and cooperative Southern Africa.
Although an exact launch date has not been set, both Namibia and Zambia have committed to implementing the agreement in the near future. Technical work is already underway to ensure that the national ID cards are compatible with border control systems. Officials are working to upgrade infrastructure to support this policy shift, which may include the use of machine-readable features and QR codes on ID cards.
Once finalized, this agreement will mark a significant milestone for the region. It will simplify travel, foster economic growth, and reinforce the spirit of unity that both Namibia and Zambia have long shared.
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