Online Reporter
Prosper Ndlovu in GABORONE, Botswana
ZIMBABWE continues to pursue dialogue with Botswana to ensure the seamless movement of people from both countries, including securing a special dispensation for locals working in the neighbouring country.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Botswana Mr Henry Mukonoweshuro said this in an interview here after conducting a tour of 20 local companies exhibiting at the Global Expo Botswana 2025 on Friday.
He said Zimbabwe and Botswana enjoy cordial relations.
He also said President Duma Boko’s administration was equally welcoming to Zimbabwe.
Under the leadership of former President Mokgweetsi Masisi, the two countries had established a Bi-National Commission to deepen relations.
Plans were also underway to scrap the use of passport for cross-border movement.
“Seamless movement of our citizens is very crucial. As you know, we have borders, we can’t run away from our neighbours, and we have relatives who are sitting across borders,” said Amb Mukonoweshuro.
“The President here, His Excellency Advocate Duma Boko, did allude in his maiden speeches to say that he is looking at a situation where we can have special dispensation for Zimbabweans.
“We are also looking at issues of using those people along the borders to try and use their IDs (identity documents), just like Botswana is doing with Namibia.
“We are working with that, we are dealing with our ministries of home affairs and immigration to work on the modalities under the Bi-National Commission because there are agreements that have been agreed to between the two ministries to work on the seamless movement of our people.”
The embassy in Gaborone has held programmes to try and assist Zimbabweans in Botswana with critical documentation to regularise their stay.
The two countries have also sought to deepen collaboration and partnerships to unlock mutually beneficial gains.
Further, Zimbabwe and Botswana have been working closely to fight foot-and-mouth disease.
“They also intend to teach us more on the veterinary side because they are well-versed in that area,” he said.
“The New Dispensation here has warmed up very well to our President and the leadership of the Government. In his own submissions, he (President Boko) has said that he admires and wants Zimbabweans to do more, to do more skills training, to impart more.
“So, I think opportunities are there, because, as you know, diamond is now going down, the demand is not there because of synthetics, and the country is trying to diversify.
“So, in this diversification, I think there is a lot of opportunities for our people, because, you know, we are very well-based in the agriculture sector, in farming, in irrigation, in horticulture. Those are the areas that I think we can actually capitalise and train the Botswana people, and capitalise on the cordial relations that exist between our two countries.”
Amb Mukonoweshuro commended the 20 Zimbabwean companies for riding on the Global Expo Botswana platform to market the country’s high-quality products.
“It’s quite impressive, the mix of companies, especially those that are targeted towards agriculture.
“As you know, they are trying to diversify here in Botswana, and they are trying to see what they can do in agriculture,” he said.
“So, I think there is a lot of interest because that’s a greenfield, and also the issue of leather, leather turning. As you know, there are a lot of cattle in Botswana, and the tanneries are down, and I think it’s an opportunity again that has presented itself.
“So, I think it’s a good thing for these companies that have come in to continue driving and following up through the Zimbabwe investment and trade promotion officer at the embassy to see what can be secured as we go on.”
However, the trade figures between the two countries, Amb Mukonoweshuro said, were low and often skewed towards Botswana.
“We need to do more. As you know, Botswana belongs to the Southern African Customs Union, so most of their trade and market investment has been skewed towards South Africa. But I think we can do more now that they are trying to diversify . . .
“There was a ban on vegetables and other agricultural products; they lifted partially that ban, and I think we are working with them to see how we can bring more, especially in the areas that are next or near Zimbabwe,” he said.
“We can do more in terms of supply. Timber, for example, is one of the areas where Botswana is really growing in terms of building, and they need a lot of timber, and we can do more if we can get enough from ourselves, in the Mutare border. I think we can do much more.”
Tinaye Agere