Zambia to rename Lusaka streets after Nujoma and Geingob
Neighbouring country honours Namibia’s liberation icons
On her first visit official trip to the country, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is set to join Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema at today's renaming ceremony.
In a powerful reaffirmation of Namibia-Zambia ties, Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah arrived in Lusaka on Thursday night for her first official visit to Zambia since taking office.
She was warmly welcomed by senior Zambian government officials ahead of a full day of official engagements with President Hakainde Hichilema scheduled for today.
Her visit, steeped in historical symbolism of a shared struggle, is seen as a significant diplomatic step towards enhancing bilateral relations and deepening cooperation between the two southern African neighbours.
In a poignant moment that captures the emotional and historical bond between Namibia and Zambia, Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to deliver a keynote address at a street-renaming ceremony in Lusaka where two prominent roads will be rechristened in honour of Namibia’s liberation heroes.
Kasama Street will be renamed after Namibia’s founding president, Dr Sam Nujoma, while Sadzu Street now bears the name of Dr Hage Gottfried Geingob, the late third president of Namibia.
Both leaders lived in Zambia during the height of the liberation struggle, making the renaming not only a tribute but also a symbolic return home.
The gesture marks a moment of pride and reflection, as Zambia served as a refuge for many of southern Africa’s freedom fighters during the dark days of colonial rule.
These streets now immortalise a shared legacy that neither time nor borders can erase.
Hichilema is expected to stand alongside his Namibian counterpart during the ceremony, reaffirming Zambia’s commitment to strengthening regional solidarity and the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.
Talks rooted in shared growth
Nandi-Ndaitwah and Hichilema will also hold bilateral talks focused on expanding trade and investment, regional infrastructure development, and enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including energy, education, agriculture and tourism.
Top on the agenda is the one-stop border post (OSBP) at the Katima Mulilo border post, a bilateral project designed to ease the movement of people and goods between the two countries and bolster the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor – a key route for regional trade.
Also to be discussed are opportunities for Zambia to further capitalise on its dry port in Walvis Bay, Namibia’s Atlantic gateway, which plays a critical role in land-linked trade within the region.
The visit has been lauded by regional analysts as a continuation of the liberation-era camaraderie between Zambia and Namibia, now maturing into strategic economic cooperation.
Since Namibia’s independence, the two countries have built robust partnerships across numerous sectors, including mining, health, legal affairs and education.
As the first woman to lead Namibia, Nandi-Ndaitwah's visit also marks a new era of leadership on the continent, one defined by mutual respect, inclusivity and shared development.
The Namibian leader is set to depart Zambia on 16 May to conclude a two-nation working visit, which also included an engagement with Botswana president Duma Boko.
She was warmly welcomed by senior Zambian government officials ahead of a full day of official engagements with President Hakainde Hichilema scheduled for today.
Her visit, steeped in historical symbolism of a shared struggle, is seen as a significant diplomatic step towards enhancing bilateral relations and deepening cooperation between the two southern African neighbours.
In a poignant moment that captures the emotional and historical bond between Namibia and Zambia, Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to deliver a keynote address at a street-renaming ceremony in Lusaka where two prominent roads will be rechristened in honour of Namibia’s liberation heroes.
Kasama Street will be renamed after Namibia’s founding president, Dr Sam Nujoma, while Sadzu Street now bears the name of Dr Hage Gottfried Geingob, the late third president of Namibia.
Both leaders lived in Zambia during the height of the liberation struggle, making the renaming not only a tribute but also a symbolic return home.
The gesture marks a moment of pride and reflection, as Zambia served as a refuge for many of southern Africa’s freedom fighters during the dark days of colonial rule.
These streets now immortalise a shared legacy that neither time nor borders can erase.
Hichilema is expected to stand alongside his Namibian counterpart during the ceremony, reaffirming Zambia’s commitment to strengthening regional solidarity and the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.
Talks rooted in shared growth
Nandi-Ndaitwah and Hichilema will also hold bilateral talks focused on expanding trade and investment, regional infrastructure development, and enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including energy, education, agriculture and tourism.
Top on the agenda is the one-stop border post (OSBP) at the Katima Mulilo border post, a bilateral project designed to ease the movement of people and goods between the two countries and bolster the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor – a key route for regional trade.
Also to be discussed are opportunities for Zambia to further capitalise on its dry port in Walvis Bay, Namibia’s Atlantic gateway, which plays a critical role in land-linked trade within the region.
The visit has been lauded by regional analysts as a continuation of the liberation-era camaraderie between Zambia and Namibia, now maturing into strategic economic cooperation.
Since Namibia’s independence, the two countries have built robust partnerships across numerous sectors, including mining, health, legal affairs and education.
As the first woman to lead Namibia, Nandi-Ndaitwah's visit also marks a new era of leadership on the continent, one defined by mutual respect, inclusivity and shared development.
The Namibian leader is set to depart Zambia on 16 May to conclude a two-nation working visit, which also included an engagement with Botswana president Duma Boko.
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