Zimbabwe, Namibia Deepen Ties with Focus on Trade, Infrastructure, and Regional Cooperation

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SADC Chairperson and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday hosted Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House in Harare, with the two leaders highlighting regional trade, diplomacy, and economic collaboration as top priorities.

The meeting, part of President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s inaugural working visit, emphasised the shared goal of fostering economic growth, creating employment, and preserving peace and stability across the Southern African region. Her itinerary also included visits to the National Heroes Acre and the Museum of African Liberation at the Liberation City.

President Mnangagwa congratulated President Nandi-Ndaitwah on her recent electoral victory and reiterated Zimbabwe’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. “Our historical ties have laid a solid foundation for increased cooperation and high-level exchanges,” he said, adding that both nations aim to expand collaboration across all economic sectors.

A key highlight was the elevation of the Joint Commission on Cooperation to a Bi-national Commission—an institutional upgrade expected to fast-track joint programmes and infrastructure projects.

President Mnangagwa also expressed Zimbabwe’s strong interest in joining the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, a strategic trade route linking Walvis Bay in Namibia to Botswana and South Africa, and potentially extending to Zimbabwe. He confirmed efforts to operationalize the Walvis Bay Dry Port, a facility generously provided by Namibia.

The leaders underscored the historical and ideological ties between Zimbabwe’s ZANU PF and Namibia’s SWAPO, both born out of liberation struggles. They also pledged continued coordination in international forums, including the United Nations, with Mnangagwa expressing gratitude for regional backing of Zimbabwe’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (2027–2028).

President Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirmed Namibia’s commitment to regional integration and infrastructure development, emphasising the importance of the collaborative use of dry ports by private sector players to boost trade. “This collaboration is crucial for economic growth, poverty reduction, and ensuring regional stability,” she noted.

She also pointed to additional investment in the Trans-Caprivi Corridor and called for the operationalisation and review of the Bi-national Commission’s legal framework to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.

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Addressing Namibia’s domestic challenges, including a youth unemployment rate of 44.4%, President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and mining. She revealed that Namibia’s newly discovered oil and gas sector is under presidential oversight to ensure responsible management.

“Our focus is on value addition and industrialisation, and we believe that working closely with neighbours like Zimbabwe will accelerate our shared development goals,” she said.

Both leaders reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to infrastructure investment, particularly in transport and logistics, as part of a broader strategy to facilitate trade and economic integration.