Monday, July 7, 2025
No Result
View All Result
News Report  Zimbabwe
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News
No Result
View All Result
News Report  Zimbabwe
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Zim-Botswana stand firm on passports elimination

February 10, 2024
0
Zim-Botswana stand firm on passports elimination

ZIMBABWE and Botswana will forge ahead with eliminating passport requirements for citizens travelling between the two countries in line with regional and continental aspirations of facilitating the free movement of people across borders.
Addressing a Press briefing after the Fourth Session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission Summit here yesterday, both President Mnangagwa and his counterpart President Mokgweetsi Masisi reaffirmed their commitment to facilitating seamless movement of people and goods across the shared borders, boosting economic activity and strengthening regional integration.

President Mnangagwa said passport requirements were vestiges of a fraught colonial past that was no longer fit for purpose in a fast-integrating region.

On his part, President Masisi dismissed the notion that the removal of passport requirements would lead to an influx of illegal immigrants into the neighbouring country, saying those views were driven by unjustified prejudice.

It is envisaged that once passport requirements have been removed, travellers would only require their respective national identity documents to travel between the two countries.

This initiative aligns with broader efforts within the Southern African Development Community and the African Union (AU) to promote free movement of people on the continent.

“The history of our respective countries shows that we didn’t have passports to move from one country to another. Passports were brought by those who thought they were more civilised than us.

“We have decided that between Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, and Mozambique in our region . . . we have a policy of integration. I don’t know what word you use in Setswana to say integration but in Shona we say kubatana,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Masisi said consultations between Harare and Gaborone for rolling out the proposed initiative were ongoing.

“There is ongoing very positive consultation between the Governments of Botswana and Zimbabwe,” said President Masisi.

“There have been exchanges of what is required to enable that including issues like security vetting of the instruments; comparability of instruments used and many other things, just like we did with Namibia.”

Botswana and Namibia removed passport requirements for their citizens early last year, making the two the first countries in southern Africa to implement such a system.

“As leaders we have expressed a desire to do this, not because we want it among ourselves only, but it’s a long-standing resolution and intention as pronounced not just by Sadc but the AU. So we don’t claim to own or be the originators of these things. We are the deliverers of it,” said President Masisi.

He said the initiative would not lead to heightened illegal migration but using an ID to cross borders would make cross-border movement between the two countries more efficient.

“There is a break in logic here; the ID itself and the permission of it to become a travel document does not correlate with an influx (of illegal immigrants) because it is still a filter,” President Masisi said.

“What it does is that it provides a greater opportunity for people to travel legally. There is still a border that they have to cross. It doesn’t mean they have to have an ID to skip a border; they still become illegal even if they have an ID. You are still an illegal immigrant if you have a valid passport that was not stamped at the border. So we must separate these.”

Part of the Zimbabwe delegation to the Fourth Session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission Summit

He said fears of an influx of illegal migrants were misplaced.

Botswana, he said, had a long history of accepting Zimbabweans into their country since the days of the liberation struggle when refugees fleeing the war flocked into the neighbouring country.

“I think people get caught up in this emotional association that is not logical and certainly not necessarily true. This is where xenophobia begins.

“When you, my brothers and sisters, develop an attitude usually without real explanation, you will break relations. Not so long ago when Zimbabwe was fighting for its liberation, we readily accepted them and opened our doors to refugees. Now they are not coming as refugees,” said President Masisi. Herald

Related Posts

Teacher Takes Own Life at Kwite Primary School

Teacher Takes Own Life at Kwite Primary School

by Nyathi
July 5, 2025
0

A quiet morning at Kwite Primary School in Mangwe turned into a scene of horror when a Grade 5 teacher,...

Zimbabwe’s Rehabilitation Plan Raises Eyebrows

Zimbabwe’s Rehabilitation Plan Raises Eyebrows

by Nyathi
July 5, 2025
0

The Zimbabwean government has unveiled a plan to create a private voluntary organization to oversee the rehabilitation of prisoners. The...

Zimbabwean Journalist Arrested Over SADC Commentary

Zimbabwean Journalist Faith Zaba Released on Bail After Power Outage Delays Hearing

by Nyathi
July 5, 2025
0

Faith Zaba, editor of the Zimbabwe Independent, was granted bail on Friday after a power outage interrupted her bail hearing...

The Unspoken Struggles of Zimbabweans Abroad

The Unspoken Struggles of Zimbabweans Abroad

by Nyathi
July 5, 2025
0

The allure of a better life abroad has drawn millions of Zimbabweans to foreign lands, but beneath the surface of...

$4 Million Ecobank Heist: Security Guard Arrested in Major Breakthrough

$4 Million Ecobank Heist: Security Guard Arrested in Major Breakthrough

by Nyathi
July 4, 2025
0

The Bulawayo police have made a significant arrest in connection with the $4 million Ecobank cash heist that occurred on...

The 3-Minute Marriage: A Tale of Love, Laughter, and Annulment

The 3-Minute Marriage: A Tale of Love, Laughter, and Annulment

by Nyathi
July 4, 2025
0

In a shocking turn of events, a newlywed Kuwaiti couple's marriage was annulled just minutes after the ceremony, making it...

Please login to join discussion

Trending News Today

  • Teacher Takes Own Life at Kwite Primary School

    Teacher Takes Own Life at Kwite Primary School

    122 shares
    Share 49 Tweet 31
  • Harare Man Arrested for Attempting to Sell Human Fetus as Beef

    68 shares
    Share 27 Tweet 17
  • Mai Titi’s Latest Drama: Arrest and US$100K Suit Threatened

    82 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 21
  • $4 Million Ecobank Heist: Security Guard Arrested in Major Breakthrough

    199 shares
    Share 80 Tweet 50
  • Lady Mo Dies in Car Accident

    40 shares
    Share 16 Tweet 10
  • The Unspoken Struggles of Zimbabweans Abroad

    69 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 17
  • Family Feud Turns Deadly: Grandson Accused of Killing 89-Year-Old Grandmother

    98 shares
    Share 39 Tweet 25
  • Zimbabwe’s Rehabilitation Plan Raises Eyebrows

    36 shares
    Share 14 Tweet 9
  • The 3-Minute Marriage: A Tale of Love, Laughter, and Annulment

    61 shares
    Share 24 Tweet 15
  • Zimbabwean Journalist Faith Zaba Released on Bail After Power Outage Delays Hearing

    39 shares
    Share 16 Tweet 10

Popular This Week

  • $4 Million Ecobank Heist: Security Guard Arrested in Major Breakthrough

    $4 Million Ecobank Heist: Security Guard Arrested in Major Breakthrough

    199 shares
    Share 80 Tweet 50
  • Roosevelt Girls High School in Hot Water: Parents Raise Concerns Over Fees and Governance

    388 shares
    Share 155 Tweet 97
  • 50 Cent’s Ex Exposes Him as a Cheapskate

    125 shares
    Share 50 Tweet 31
  • Teacher Takes Own Life at Kwite Primary School

    122 shares
    Share 49 Tweet 31
  • Family Feud Turns Deadly: Grandson Accused of Killing 89-Year-Old Grandmother

    98 shares
    Share 39 Tweet 25
  • Police Crack Down on Illicit Liquor Factory

    86 shares
    Share 34 Tweet 22
  • Mai Titi’s Latest Drama: Arrest and US$100K Suit Threatened

    82 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 21
  • Significant Dagga Shipment Intercepted in Harare

    77 shares
    Share 31 Tweet 19
  • Themba Gorimbo: The MMA Fighter Walking a Tightrope Between Sports and Politics

    194 shares
    Share 78 Tweet 49
  • Police Officer Drags Ex-Wife to Court Over Maintenance

    73 shares
    Share 29 Tweet 18

Popular This Month

  • Susan Mutami’s Desperate Plea To  Temba  Mliswa

    Susan Mutami’s Desperate Plea To Temba Mliswa

    457 shares
    Share 183 Tweet 114
  • Roosevelt Girls High School in Hot Water: Parents Raise Concerns Over Fees and Governance

    388 shares
    Share 155 Tweet 97
  • Courtroom Exchange: Mai Jeremiah Questioned by Defense Lawyer

    352 shares
    Share 141 Tweet 88
  • Street Preacher’s Double Life Exposed

    300 shares
    Share 120 Tweet 75
  • 77-Year Marriage Ends Over 60-Year-Old Secret

    273 shares
    Share 109 Tweet 68
  • Former President Robert Mugabe’s Son , Chatunga Causes Havoc in Mazowe

    273 shares
    Share 109 Tweet 68
  • The Whipping Girls of Limpopo

    261 shares
    Share 104 Tweet 65
  • Man Narrowly Escapes Becoming a Lion Snack

    261 shares
    Share 104 Tweet 65
  • The Pilot Who Flew Under the Radar for 20 Years

    244 shares
    Share 98 Tweet 61
  • “Sekuru Malawi” Scams in Mbare

    235 shares
    Share 94 Tweet 59

Most Read Stories

  • “Zimbabwe Is Discrediting SADC”

    ZANU PF Accused Of Bribing SADC Elders To Retain From Losing Power

    5250 shares
    Share 2100 Tweet 1313
  • Madzibaba gets Toyota Aqua after explaining new currency ZiG to church

    4543 shares
    Share 1817 Tweet 1136
  • Breaking News: Zimbabwe launches New Currency (Zig)

    4283 shares
    Share 1713 Tweet 1071
  • Guide : How to access 2023 Zimsec Ordinary O Level results online

    3977 shares
    Share 1591 Tweet 994
  • Uganda Police Officer Shoots Wife Dead After Mocking Him Over Man-U Loss

    3905 shares
    Share 1562 Tweet 976
  • Floods hit Gweru

    3596 shares
    Share 1438 Tweet 899
  • Mashura pa Gokwe musi wa 12.02.24

    3548 shares
    Share 1419 Tweet 887
  • Secret message for ED after his inauguration

    3487 shares
    Share 1395 Tweet 872
  • Heatwave Warning:Expect Extremely hot temp ranging from 36° to 41° until 12 March

    3396 shares
    Share 1358 Tweet 849
  • Here is the reckless Kombi Driver!!!!!!!!!!! See pics here

    3223 shares
    Share 1289 Tweet 806

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Home

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News that Matters
    • News
    • Health and Diseases
    • Technology
    • Religion
    • Horror and Disaster
    • Elections 2023
  • Crime and Courts
  • Celebrity
  • Sports
  • Mjolo
  • Breaking News