Namibia and Zambia are set to make cross-border travel between their countries easier by allowing citizens to use national identification cards instead of passports.
- Namibia and Zambia announced plans for cross-border travel using national ID cards instead of passports.
- The arrangement follows a similar agreement between Namibia and Botswana earlier this year.
- Zambia’s High Commissioner emphasized the strong historical ties between the two nations.
Namibia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, Dr Albert Kawana, made the announcement during Zambia’s 59th Independence Day celebration in Windhoek. He revealed that both governments are working closely to implement the new travel arrangement.
“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 stated.
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This follows a similar agreement reached earlier this year between Namibia and Botswana, making them the first countries in Southern Africa to permit cross-border travel using only national ID cards.
Deepening bilateral ties
Zambia’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Stephen Katuka, also praised the deep-rooted ties between the two nations, recalling Zambia’s support for Namibia’s liberation struggle.
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In another show of cooperation, both countries have agreed to allow convicted nationals to serve the rest of their prison sentences in their home countries.
