Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday co-chaired the 5th Bi-National Commission (BNC) with his Botswana counterpart Duma Boko, setting the tone for deeper bilateral relations, accelerated trade, and practical cooperation to tackle shared economic and climate challenges.
Opening the high-level session in Harare, President Mnangagwa described Zimbabwe and Botswana as one family, bound by history, culture and a shared liberation heritage, and called for bold steps to dismantle barriers hindering the movement of people, goods and services.
“We must move decisively to ease the movement of people, goods and services,” he said, proposing a phased framework that would allow the use of national identity documents in place of passports for short-term travel, particularly for border communities.
He identified modernized border systems, including One-Stop Border Posts, harmonized immigration procedures and digital clearance platforms, as critical to reducing the cost of doing business and boosting trade flows.
President Mnangagwa also urged officials to fast-track implementation of agreed projects, stressing that the BNC should deliver practical and tangible benefits to citizens.
He highlighted growing economic cooperation across sectors such as agriculture, health, tourism, security and investment, while urging both countries to leverage opportunities under regional and continental frameworks to expand trade.
President Mnangagwa pointed to untapped potential in infrastructure, transport, mining and tourism, calling for greater private sector participation to complement government efforts.
“Our economic relations are on a sound and positive trajectory,” he said, adding that joint ventures in mineral value addition, infrastructure development and climate-smart agriculture could unlock new growth.
He also underscored the need for regional resilience in the face of global uncertainties, including supply chain disruptions and energy volatility, urging investment in energy generation, transmission interconnectors and renewable solutions.
Climate change, he noted, remains a shared threat requiring coordinated responses in sustainable agriculture and environmental management.
Turning to regional and international cooperation, President Mnangagwa commended Botswana for supporting Zimbabwe on key diplomatic issues and its role within the Southern African region, while reaffirming the commitment of Harare to joint development initiatives.
In his remarks, President Boko echoed the strong historical and diplomatic ties between the two nations, describing the BNC as an indispensable institutional mechanism for advancing bilateral relations and ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes.
He took the opportunity to congratulate Zimbabwe on its 46th Independence anniversary, saying it reflected the country’s resilience and determination.
President Boko reaffirmed the commitment of Botswana to strengthening cooperation anchored on shared aspirations for prosperity, stability and sustainable development.
He said the BNC had already delivered measurable progress across key sectors including trade, agriculture, health, energy, infrastructure and security, supported by a robust architecture of agreements built on trust and shared responsibility.
“Our cooperation is not merely conceptual, but practical and impactful,” he said, citing Zimbabwe’s support to Botswana through medical supplies and joint efforts to combat foot-and-mouth disease as examples of tangible benefits to citizens.
Trade and investment, he noted, remain central to the partnership, with the existing bilateral trade agreement continuing to facilitate increased commercial exchange, while welcoming new agreements expected to be signed during the session to further promote investment and support small and medium enterprises.
President Boko also pointed to growing private sector interest in both countries, particularly in areas such as agro-processing, mineral beneficiation and horticulture, highlighting participation in the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair as a sign of deepening economic integration.
He however stressed the urgency of addressing structural bottlenecks affecting trade, calling for accelerated modernization of border infrastructure, streamlining customs procedures and the removal of non-tariff barriers, including progress towards establishing a One-Stop Border Post at the Plumtree/Ramokgwebana.
Both leaders acknowledged that their deliberations come at a time of mounting global and regional challenges, including economic pressures, climate variability and food insecurity, reinforcing the need for stronger cooperation and solidarity.
“I am confident that our deliberations will be constructive, forward-looking and results-oriented,” President Boko said, expressing optimism that the session would yield concrete outcomes to further deepen cooperation.
The 5th BNC is expected to review progress on existing agreements while charting a more accelerated path towards economic transformation and improved livelihoods for citizens in both countries.
New Ziana
