adminThe agreement came out in a meeting of the two countries’ ministers of home affairs held at Mmamabaka Border Post which is the Botswana side of the Mlambapeli Border Post.
The meeting held on Wednesday was between Zimbabwe’s Home Affairs Co-Minister Cde Kembo Mohadi, and the Botswana Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Edwin Batshu.
The project to set up the border post has been on the drawing board for some years.
Mlambapeli Border Post would be the fourth after the commissioning of Mphoengs and Maitengwe which were also opened to reduce congestion at Plumtree.
The Botswana side of the new border post saw the setting up of temporary structures as early as 2008, while the Zimbabwean side is yet to do so.
Cde Mohadi said that it was a prerequisite under the Sadc protocol that there be free movement within the Sadc region and that the establishment of this border post was a step towards the fulfilment of that protocol.
“We have agreed in today’s meeting that this border post should be operational by May next year. We don’t think we will fail to set up just a temporary structure despite financial challenges,” he said.
The establishment of Mlambapeli Border Post would help reduce the distance travelled by those living in the vicinity of the southern part of Gwanda District who were forced to go through Bulawayo to Plumtree, a distance of about 400 kilometres.
Cde Mohadi said the opening of Mlambapeli Border Post would boost trade between the two countries and discourage border-jumping.
To increase trade among the Sadc countries, most countries within the region have scrapped visa requirements except Angola.
“So I am saying to the Botswana Government don’t pull out, we are going to make sure this project is a success because it is going to assist trade between the two countries.
“This will also come as a relief to people living in this area who have their relatives across the river and have to come to Botswana to do some rituals and attend burials of their relatives living in Botswana. We hope that in time all countries in the region would scrap the visa requirements because we are a family,” said Cde Mohadi.
He said the border should be functional by May next year despite the challenges faced by the country following the imposition of illegal sanctions by Western countries.
“We need to operationalise this border post and the Zimbabwean side has been found wanting, the reason being financial constraints.
“Sanctions imposed on us by the West have made it impossible for us to borrow money from the World Bank so we do most of the projects using our own resources hence the delay in implementing this project,” said Cde Mohadi.
In 1988, Zimbabwe and Botswana signed a protocol that established the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security to facilitate movement between the two countries.
Mr Batshu said Botswana was committed to ensure that there was increased interaction among people from the two countries. He concurred with Cde Mohadi that plans were that the border post be operational by mid-next year.
“In 2008 we agreed that we should do something and see that there is a crossing point here. Unfortunately we were hit by economic recession and as a result the project has been delayed.
“We have agreed that we target May by which this border post can be running,” said Mr Batshu.
However, Mr Batshu said the two countries had to work towards development of roads leading to the border post.
“Between now and May we need to work tirelessly on this project so that we reduce (pressure) at Ramakwebana and that can only be done through commitment by the two republics,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by government officials for both countries including local chiefs from Botswana.
Online Reporter