Imelda Ambondo
Botswana President Duma Boko is expected in Namibia this week for a meeting with his Namibian counterpart Netumb0 Nandi -Ndaitwah.
His arrival was preceded by a meeting of Senior government officials from Namibia and Botswana who met on Monday for the Second Session of the Namibia-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNS).
The meeting aims to strengthen cooperation and review progress across key sectors of bilateral engagement between the two countries.
Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, Executive Director in Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Trade, and Co-Chair of the meeting, welcomed the Botswana delegation, led by Ambassador Thuso Godson Ramodimoosi, Permanent Secretary of Botswana’s Ministry of International Relations.
“Namibia and Botswana enjoy excellent relations built on enduring historical, socio-economic, cultural, and familial connections. Our deliberations this week will further deepen our cooperation under the BNC framework, with the explicit intent of improving the lives of our peoples.”Nghipondoka-Robiati said.
She explained that the Senior Officials’ Meeting will produce Draft Agreed Minutes and a Draft Joint Communique, to be initialled by both Co-Chairs before being presented to Ministers for consideration on 9 October 2025.
Four key committees, Political, Diplomatic, and Legal Economic Social and Defense and security, will conduct technical discussions and report back to the plenary. “I urge all committees to come prepared with reports of their outcomes in electronic form to facilitate the final documentation,” she noted.
Nghipondoka-Robiati highlighted Namibia’s national priorities, which include agriculture , youth empowerment, quality education, and training, the creative industry, quality healthcare and social welfare, land housing, and sanitation. She also underscored the importance of intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) and enhanced infrastructure and regional connectivity within SADC.
“The onus is on us, as Senior Officials, to ensure that our deliberations yield tangible results that bring meaningful change to our citizens,” she said.
Ramodimoosi expressed appreciation for Namibia’s warm hospitality and excellent arrangements for the meeting. “We are deeply grateful to the Government and People of the Republic of Namibia for hosting this Second Session of the BNC. We already feel at home being in the land of the brave,” he said.
“These exchanges underscore the deep-rooted bonds of friendship, solidarity, and fruitful cooperation that have long characterised our relations. Our shared history, values, and aspirations bind us as neighbours determined to build a future of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.”” Ramodimoosi said.
He called on officials to address challenges hindering the smooth implementation of BNC decisions and to finalise outstanding Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements. “Let’s not delegate work to our principals,” he emphasized. “It is important that our compatriots see and feel the benefits of the BNC. It should never be a talk show between governments.”
Ramodimoosi also urged that the Commission’s deliberations align with broader regional and global priorities, referencing outcomes from the 45th SADC Summit in Madagascar and the 80th UN General Assembly in NewYork. “Our cooperation must contribute meaningfully to regional integration, peace, and security,” he said.
Both Co-Chairs expressed confidence that the week-long meeting would produce a comprehensive report and recommendations for consideration by Ministers and, ultimately, by the Heads of State.
“With our combined efforts,” Nghipondoka-Robiati concluded, “we will deliver meaningful and quality outcomes that reinforce the partnership between our two great nations.”
COMMENTS