Renthia Kaimbi
There is no official agreement that has been signed between Namibia and Zambia on passport-free travel, the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security has said.
The ministry’s executive director, Nghidinua Daniel, told the Windhoek Observer that reports claiming the arrangement is in place are premature.
“The use of national ID documents as travel documents between Namibia and Zambia is not yet operational, although discussions are underway,” he said.
The plan would allow citizens to cross borders using only national identity cards, but it remains under discussion with no implementation timeline.
The speculation stemmed from remarks made by then minister of home affairs, immigration, safety, and security Albert Kawana at Zambia’s 59th Independence Day celebrations in Windhoek last year.
At that time, Kawana declared that the arrangement was at an advanced stage.
Daniel clarified that Namibia is prepared for such a system, with an ICAO-compliant ID card, and an enabling legal framework in place, but no binding agreement has been reached.
“For these arrangements to materialise, both countries must have compatible infrastructure, documentation standards and legal provisions,” he said.
He added that Namibia’s readiness positions the country to consider similar agreements with neighbouring states in the future.
The initiative was introduced as a follow-up to the Namibia-Botswana ID-based travel system, which has been operating for several years.
It also aligns with broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals to ease movement and promote economic cooperation.
Daniel urged patience and warned against misinformation.
“Discussions of this nature are conducted through the appropriate diplomatic channels, and announcements are only made once both parties are ready to make the announcement. The ministry remains committed to strengthening regional cooperation and will keep the public informed of any new developments in this regard,” he said.
For now, travellers moving between Namibia and Zambia must still present valid passports and, where required, visas.
Zambia’s high commissioner to Namibia, Stephen Katuka, has expressed support for the idea, citing strong historical ties between the two countries.
However, he did not confirm when or how the arrangement would be put into effect.
