Masisi on lightning-quick visit to Geingob
Border post soon open around the clock
"We can't choose our neighbours, but if we could, we would choose Namibia," Botswana's president said.
State House on Sunday welcomed the president of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi, whose visit lasted only a few hours and was described as an "official working visit".
Among commitments made during the visit was that the Buitepos border post between the two countries will soon be open 24 hours a day. The post is the biggest between Namibia and Botswana and is located east of Gobabis.
President Hage Geingob and Masisi will both preside at a ceremony when the new hours of operation are effected, but no dates have been announced yet.
“My brother came to wish me a happy new year. I did the same and wished him a happy new year as well. We have also discussed various bilateral issues among other things, and president Masisi is urging me on [the implementation of] these bilateral agreements,” Geingob told NBC television.
On his part, Masisi said loves visiting his “second home”, Namibia.
“We can't choose our neighbours, but if we could, we would choose Namibia,” he said.
Admiration
It is almost a ritual to pay respect to the older colleague and wish him a happy new year, Masisi said with a look at Geingob, adding: "I admire him".
There are still two years until the next elections in Botswana and Namibia, and Geingob will end his term at the end of that period, Masisi said.
"It is important to show the people and the world why we are doing this job and it is good for the benefit of both our countries if we accelerate the implementation of our bilateral agreements.”
The Namibian media only found out about this surprise visit via an announcement by the Botswana government on the internet, which - according the announcement - had taken place at Geingob's invitation.
Meanwhile, it was last year decided that citizens of both Namibia and Botswana will soon only need to present their identity documents if they want to cross the border.
Among commitments made during the visit was that the Buitepos border post between the two countries will soon be open 24 hours a day. The post is the biggest between Namibia and Botswana and is located east of Gobabis.
President Hage Geingob and Masisi will both preside at a ceremony when the new hours of operation are effected, but no dates have been announced yet.
“My brother came to wish me a happy new year. I did the same and wished him a happy new year as well. We have also discussed various bilateral issues among other things, and president Masisi is urging me on [the implementation of] these bilateral agreements,” Geingob told NBC television.
On his part, Masisi said loves visiting his “second home”, Namibia.
“We can't choose our neighbours, but if we could, we would choose Namibia,” he said.
Admiration
It is almost a ritual to pay respect to the older colleague and wish him a happy new year, Masisi said with a look at Geingob, adding: "I admire him".
There are still two years until the next elections in Botswana and Namibia, and Geingob will end his term at the end of that period, Masisi said.
"It is important to show the people and the world why we are doing this job and it is good for the benefit of both our countries if we accelerate the implementation of our bilateral agreements.”
The Namibian media only found out about this surprise visit via an announcement by the Botswana government on the internet, which - according the announcement - had taken place at Geingob's invitation.
Meanwhile, it was last year decided that citizens of both Namibia and Botswana will soon only need to present their identity documents if they want to cross the border.
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