PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar)
Speaking during the second session of the Namibia-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Windhoek last week, the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Boko, strongly emphasised the need for the two countries not to compete against each other but to complement each other in what he termed as “objective, plausible, complimentary” between the two economies and insisted that discussions must lead to measurable outcomes.
He described the summit as part of a wider transformation process between the two nations. He said the discussions had been “open and frank” and called on officials to ensure that the commitments made at the BNC become visible in people’s lives.
“The time now is for the translation of those words into action,” President Boko declared, urging both governments to move from planning to performance. “We have spoken, we have drawn plans, and we have laid out goals. Now we begin the march,” he said.
He likened the process of implementation to a revolution, saying the two nations are “prosecuting a revolution” of political and economic change, compressed in time and clear in purpose” and insisted that such a revolution must be defined by urgency. In one of the most striking moments of the session, President Boko expressed deep frustration with delays caused by excessive protocol and ceremonial behaviour in government processes.
“Sometimes I get frustrated by you. You are too formal. That’s why you refer to yourselves as ‘excellencies. I’m just a boy,” he said, urging officials to break away from rigid traditions.
He reminded delegates that leaders are “all subject to human frailties, foibles and fallibilities… We are human. We are not deities.” His message was a direct challenge to the “culture of ceremony” that often slows progress in bilateral work.
On her part, President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the BNC is built on the “deep, lasting ties” between the two countries, rooted in “shared history, mutual respect, and a common vision aimed at peace, stability and prosperity.” However, she quickly turned to economic development, stressing that infrastructure is the engine of growth.
She highlighted the critical importance of key corridors for unlocking economic potential, particularly for landlocked Botswana. “We must prioritise the expeditious implementation of decisions related to infrastructure development,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah stressed. She pointed specifically to the need to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the Trans-Kalahari Corridor.
The Namibian leader underscored that this corridor, alongside the Trans-Kalahari Railway Project and the subsequent development of the Port of Walvis Bay, is crucial to the “realisation of our aspirations for regional and continental economic integration”. She implored the delegates to ensure the BNC delivers on its mandate.
Bilateral cooperation beyond diplomacy into economic strategies:
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia’s recent discoveries of oil and gas present immense opportunities, not only for Namibia but for the entire region. She described these resources as a “regional asset”, signalling that their development must be approached through shared infrastructure and joint planning.
This set the stage for President Duma Boko’s firm call for action. Using the energy discoveries as a clear driver for accelerated development, he directly pressed technical teams to stop delaying critical infrastructure projects. “When are we starting work on the Trans-Saharan Railway? And the pipelines, oil pipelines that we must build?” he asked.
President Boko then shifted to aviation, highlighting another strategic weakness: national airlines in both countries are struggling to survive. He questioned why two small populations—Botswana with 2.5 million people and Namibia with 3 million—should each attempt to maintain separate, failing airlines instead of working together.
“The airline in Namibia has closed down. Botswana is on the verge of collapse… What can these two countries do in the area of airline transportation? What can they do, both of them? Not in competition. Objective, plausible, complementarity…”
Boko warned that whether it is a collapsing airline or a multi-billion-dollar oil pipeline, the answer must be practical, joint, and complementary action — not duplication, not competition, and not delay.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah struck an equally firm tone, calling the five-day meeting “extraordinary” and a “key moment” in strengthening the relationship between the two countries.
She said the commission’s work had produced a clear roadmap for cooperation but insisted that what matters most is its implementation.
“We must make sure that we implement what we have agreed here. There should be no excuse,” she said.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the summit had produced eight new Memoranda of Understanding in energy, employment, labour, science, technology, and innovation.
“These instruments will strengthen our bilateral relations, improve regional integration, and facilitate the implementation of our flagship initiatives,” she said. President Nandi-Ndaitwah also said timelines have been set, and ministers must adhere to them without delay.
“Our sectoral committees must meet regularly to ensure that the decisions taken here translate into measurable progress on the ground. As Heads of State, we will play our part and give you political support. You have it,” she said.
“If anything gets in your way, come to us,” she told her ministers and senior officials.
If we juxtapose the above with what is happening in South Africa with the Madlanga Commission of Enquiry as well as the South African ad hoc parliamentary committee on the allegations of the crime syndicates as revealed by Lt General Mkhwanazi, one could not help but reflect on the uneasiness many citizens in Southern Africa are beginning to feel with the revelations coming out of those two bodies. When one connects the developments in South Africa with what’s unfolding in Namibia, it becomes clear that crime syndicates are no longer isolated national issues; they are regional power structures feeding off weak institutions and political complicity.
The question “how safe are we in this country?” is therefore not rhetorical; it’s a mirror to a larger systemic decay. When the judiciary, police, and intelligence units are compromised or captured, the state loses its moral and operational authority to protect its citizens. Drugs, human trafficking, and contract killings are not simply the symptoms of social breakdown; they are the visible evidence of a parallel economy of crime operating within the very organs meant to fight it.
If South Africa’s parliamentary ad hoc committee proceeds with transparency and courage, its work could have a catalytic effect across the region, forcing neighbouring states, including Namibia, to confront their own vulnerabilities. But if the inquiry is diluted or politically managed, it could embolden syndicates to tighten their grip, knowing that accountability remains selective.
In truth, safety in such a context becomes relative; those aligned with power feel protected, while ordinary citizens are left exposed to violence, impunity, and corruption. It is precisely in moments like this that public vigilance, investigative journalism, and regional cooperation become indispensable.
Thus, our concern isn’t just an observation; it’s a call to consciousness. The real question is not only “how safe are we?” But “what are we collectively prepared to do to reclaim safety, integrity, and justice in our societies?” Are our police forces or security clusters in the region working together, in terms of crime intelligence and information sharing, to curb these crime syndicates? Are they resourced enough, and do they have intelligence units that specifically deal with these syndicates, or do they just want to rely on WhatsApp texts, which are not substantive evidence admissible in a court of law, especially if obtained illegally, and given that they don’t have audio-recorded calls? Are our judiciary, the police, the military, and prison services infiltrated and captured? Do we even have enough scanners to check on all those containers coming into our countries, or are we losing the war on drugs as they are now finding their ways into prison cells?
The story of South Africa’s Madlanga Commission is a cautionary tale written in our own alphabet of betrayal:
• Criminal syndicates embedded in the judiciary and police;
• Dockets vanishing, verdicts auctioned;
• Mansions and motorcades purchased with public despair.
If South Africa, the continent’s constitutional vanguard, can be captured from within, Namibia cannot afford complacency.
Nevertheless, we are pleased to have seen President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah at the closing of the Namibian Defence Force’s first-ever Counter Terrorism Live Firing Exercise at Etiro Base in Karibib recently.
As the Commander-in-Chief in whom there is the congruence of both the martial and civil law, her presence at the exercise served as an important moment for troop morale and provided an opportunity to witness the troops demonstrate their newly acquired counterterrorism skills, showcasing Namibia’s growing defence capability.
We were particularly pleased to hear her saying that terrorism, violent extremism, and organised crime remain real threats and calling for stronger laws, closer cooperation among security agencies, and unity of purpose to shield the Motherland.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in modern infrastructure and technology, maintaining discipline and professionalism in the Defence Force, ensuring troops’ welfare and living conditions, and protecting the values of democracy. “Our investment in security is not an expense. It is an investment in the future stability and prosperity of our Republic.”
Exercise //Khau //Ae means “Shield Together”, and indeed, “A nation armed with records, foresight, and courage cannot be captured. But a nation lulled by comfort and silence will one day wake up to find that its justice, sovereignty, and very soul have been sold to the highest bidder.”
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of our employers and this newspaper but solely our personal views as citizens and Pan-Africanists.
