Govt worried about violence along borderline

The harrassment of locals along the Botswana-Namibia borderline in the Zambezi region could hinder peaceful coexistence.

Minister of international relations and cooperation Peya Mushelenga said this at a follow-up joint visit with his Botswana counterpart, Lemogang Kwape, to the Zambezi Regional Council at Katima Mulilo yesterday.

He said Zambezi’s border communities have been subjected to harassment and killings at the hands of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) over the years.

Mushelenga and Kwape are expected to undertake a joint visit to the Chobe District Council today, where they are expected to sign a twinning agreement between the two councils.

The agreement will focus on local economic development, environment and waste management, shared riverine resources, culture and sport.

Mushelenga said although the internal security situation along the borderline in the Zambezi region has improved, it is not completely without incident.

“A situation where our people live in fear creates an untenable environment, hindering the establishment of a climate conducive to peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness.

“While cordial relations persist at the highest level, there is an urgent need to consolidate these ties at the grassroots level, particularly in addressing cross-border concerns faced by communities along the shared riverine border. “The recurrence of avoidable tension poses a risk to the progress achieved thus far, emphasising the need to ensure the safety of ordinary citizens engaging with shared natural resources along the common riverine boundary,” he said.

Mushelenga said the agreement would not only enhance cooperation between the two regional councils, but also encourage people-to-people ties and cooperation among traditional authorities.

“Such distinctive collaborations between our sisterly countries significantly contribute to the consolidation of good neighbourliness, friendship and, ultimately, peaceful and harmonious coexistence,” he said.

Kwape highlighted other significant efforts, such as the introduction of an identification document to cross the respective borders between the two countries, the operation of one-stop border posts and 24-hour border crossings, as measures already in place to ease the movement of citizens.

“We have undoubtedly raised the hopes and expectations of our people. Therefore, Botswana is ready to intensify efforts to ensure that the two regions achieve the desired aspirations of our presidents.

“I have no doubt that our commitment to continue strengthening our bilateral cooperation will realise the spirit of the regional and continental integration agenda,” he said.