countries the use of identity cards as travel documents is being put in place for the convenience of our citizens. It is your project and its success depends on you.”

Masisi says following the signing of the agreement, Botswana will introduce an electronic identity card.

“The Botswana passport is an electronic document that contains the biometric information that can be used to verify and authenticate the identity of travelers through a computer scan. In this regard, the Government of Botswana has also embarked on a process to transform the national identity card to an electronic identity card,” Masis said.

Botswana’s minister of Home Affairs, Annah Mokgethi, was part of the working group that, starting in 2019, explored the possibility of ending the use of passports between the two countries.

“This is without a doubt a monumental achievement which will ease movement and greatly impact on the lives of the people of our two countries and the region at large,” Mokgethi said.

Botswana and Namibia become the first countries in Southern Africa to abolish the use of passports to travel between them.