The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Anna Mokgethi defended the agreement in Parliament, stating that technocrats would finalise the issue at the instruction of both presidents.
The agreement, made during the Kusi Ideas Festival, proposes that Batswana and Zimbabweans can cross into both countries using national identity cards, similar to Botswana's arrangement with Namibia. Mnangagwa’s Kusi Ideas Festival statement has led to confusion, with some Zimbabweans reportedly heading to Botswana borders with national identity cards.
Mokgethi clarified that the agreement has not been finalised, emphasising that Mnangagwa and Masisi’s comments were expressions of gratitude and a discussion on the possibility of using IDs as a travel document for citizens of both countries. “I emphasised that the formality has not been arrived at, and equally, it is not wrong for presidents to share their views on something they view as important to their nations, more so within the development agenda of the continent. It should also be recalled that in two of the Kgotla meetings addressed by Masisi, he also indicated the desire for Botswana to approach Zimbabwe and initiate the discussion.
This was part of the necessary consultations. Should the leadership of the two countries formalise the idea, all necessary consultations, processes, and communication will be done appropriately with the relevant stakeholders both in Botswana and Zimbabwe,” she said. Mokgethi assured that there is no signed agreement between Botswana and Zimbabwe on using IDs to cross borders.
She said processes and procedures will be undertaken before implementation, including a Memorandum of Agreement upon the adoption of regulatory standards. For his part, Sefhare-Ramokgonami legislator Kesitegile Gobotswang said there is no way Mnangagwa mentioned the issue without agreeing with Masisi first. Ignatius Moswaane wanted to know if the government has made an impact assessment study on the issues of security. Leader of Opposition, Dithapelo Keorapetse, asked where Masisi got the mandate to cut a deal with Mnangagwa.
“Bakalanga in North East disagreed with this issue of Omang right in front of Masisi in a Kgotla meeting,” Keorapetse highlighted. He wondered why Masisi went ahead and agreed with Mnangagwa in principle after the North East residents had disagreed. He said Mnangagwa’s comments created confusion because people in Zimbabwe had their IDs ready to cross into Botswana. Palapye legislator Onneetse Ramogapi said the Omang issue was confusing because people who were rejected at the border because the agreement has not been formalised might use illegal ways of entering the country.
Maun East’s Goretetse Kekgonegile asked what Botswana stands to gain from Zimbabwe compared to what the latter stands to benefit from the former. “If Zimbabwe stands to benefit a lot, what does this mean for our lives?” Kekgonegile questioned. He said it is important to start this ID initiative in countries where there is less hostility. He further asked the minister if it was too late to ask Masisi to go back on his agreement with Mnangagwa. Specially Elected MP Unity Dow asked how much it would cost to put security features in IDs and whether it made sense to move to an Omang with features rather than remaining with the passport.
The MP for Serowe South, Leepetswe Lesedi wanted to know what criterion is used to choose the countries they agree with. Francistown South MP Wynter Mmolotsi added that the government should note that if the Omang initiative were to be implemented, Zimbabweans could occupy the North East and outnumber Batswana. “In Francistown, our health system is overwhelmed by Zimbabweans. They are illegally mining gold in our area, so a lot could happen after the ID initiative is formalised. People of Francistown are living in fear as a result of Zimbabwe criminals, aren’t you considerate of them?” Mmolotsi questioned. He asked what is preventing the Masisi-led government from consulting Batswana, especially the ones who are nearer to Zimbabwe. He asked why such a big issue, which has great implications for their lives, was announced by Mnangagwa in Botswana instead of Masisi. The MP for Serowe West, Onalepelo Kedikilwe said he thought Botswana was a country of morero (consultation) and questioned why there was no referendum to get Batswana’s views on this matter. “How are we going to handle these numbers?
That day, I didn’t sleep because of this matter,” he alleged. Kedikilwe said the country is not a game; therefore, it cannot be gambled with. Molepolole North MP Oabile Regoeng asked what inspired the government to make such a decision. Responding to MPs' questions, Mokgethi accused the legislators. She said the Botswana and Namibia agreement was also started at the presidential level. “There is no wrong in presidents agreeing on issues,” she highlighted. She accused opposition MPs of instilling fear in Batswana over the Zim issue. She said no Zimbabweans are flocking borders but rather there is some distorted information to push a certain narrative.
She said they cannot start anything which can put Batswana in danger. Mokgethi said pursuant to the aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063 on the free movement of people in the continent, the PAN African Forum for Migration, African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) initiative, Botswana continues to explore opportunities to facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services. “Our one strategic move to enable and operationalise the above initiatives is to use the National Identity card/Omang as a travel document in bilateral arrangements with SADC countries which are amenable to the concept,” Mokgethi said. She said the use of ID as a travel document in Botswana emanates from the desire to facilitate free trade, movement of people, goods and services in line with the aspiration of ACFTA. She said as a nation Botswana needs to leverage on free, orderly, secure and regular movement of people within the region to facilitate the country’s economic growth.
“The African Agenda 2063, the Africa we want has identified free movement of Africans as a strategic pillar that harnesses and enhances economic growth. Botswana is continually exploring options and possibilities of facilitating free movement through the use of national identity card as a document for travel.
The current arrangement between Botswana and Namibia, which was launched in February this year, is living up to expectations,” she said. Mokgethi emphasised that the use of IDs as a travel document is not new to Botswana as the latter already have it with Namibia. She said there are issues of concern, which are always attended to before such an initiative can be undertaken.
“First and foremost is the validity and acceptability of such IDs to international travel standards. Key and critical parameters are security measures in place, machine readable features, secure and effective border management controls, adequate and functional infrastructure, stability in the area or region, reporting structures and traceability of migration patterns, effective monitoring in both countries and regions,” she said.
Mokgethi said the information in the IDs is stored and displayed for security purposes. “The IDs are linked to passports in travel movement for traceability and management, frequent movement without the risk of having full pages unlike in the case of passports, enhanced legal movement and passage of goods in the border villages,” she said.
