Zimbabwe and Botswana move toward passport-free travel using National IDs

By Emelda Jinya

Zimbabwe and Botswana are set to introduce a passport-free travel arrangement that will allow citizens of both countries to cross borders using national identity documents instead of passports, in a move aimed at easing movement and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The development emerged during the 5th Session of the Zimbabwe–Botswana Bi-National Commission, held at State House in Harare recently ,and co-chaired by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Botswana President Duma Boko.

According to official proceedings from the meeting, the initiative will be rolled out in phases, beginning with short visits and communities along the shared border where cross-border movement is frequent for trade, social, and family purposes.

Botswana is reportedly upgrading its national identity system to support the planned arrangement, which is expected to simplify border procedures and reduce reliance on passports for eligible travellers.

During the discussions, President Mnangagwa reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Botswana, stressing the importance of practical measures that facilitate trade, mobility and regional integration.

President Boko, meanwhile, expressed Botswana’s readiness to advance joint initiatives that improve efficiency at borders and enhance people-to-people relations between the two countries.

The planned arrangement aligns with Botswana’s existing mobility agreements with neighbouring countries, including Namibia and Zambia, which already allow simplified cross-border movement.

If implemented, the Zimbabwe–Botswana system would mark a significant step toward regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), particularly in easing movement for ordinary citizens in border regions.

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