Namibia and Botswana continue to strengthen ties to ensure peaceful and prosperous coexistence.

The two countries Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and Foreign Affairs met at Katima Mulilo ahead of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Zambezi Regional Council and Chobe District Council.

The joint visit started in Katima Mulilo, to be followed by the Chobe District on Thursday for the official signing of the MoU.

The continued effects of the 1904 Genocide, which saw the displacement of many OvaHerero people, were highlighted at the Chief Hosea Kutako and Otjiserandu Tjongeama commemorations with descendants from Botswana, Canada, and the US.

Speaking at the commemoration at Okahandja, Professor Mutjindje Katjiua, who leads a faction of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority, stressed the importance of being inclusive of the descendants of those who were exiled.

The government of Botswana sponsored the travel costs of a contingent of OveHerero people who reside in that country.

Namibia, alongside Botswana and Angola, is set to meet with G7 countries over the decision to require all producers to send their diamonds to Belgium for certification.

The three countries had written a letter to the G7 in March, expressing disagreement and saying this bypasses the established Kimberly certification process.

President Nangolo Mbumba shared the latest developments during a courtesy call by Debmarine Chief Executive Officer Willy Mertens and Natural Diamonds brand ambassador Lupita Nyongo at State House.

The joint civil-military community sensitisation campaign between Namibia and Botswana started in the Zambezi Region.

The campaign aims to educate and sensitise residents along the border between Namibia and Botswana.

The campaign started on Impalila Island, focusing on illegal fishing and border crossings, poaching, smuggling of firearms, drugs, and illicit goods, human wildlife conflict, cattle rustling, and protected resources.

Residents from Impalila and Kasika raised concerns about transport costs, particularly when travelling to Katima Mulilo.

Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa have excelled in a joint livestock sector project under the African Union.

Agriculture Minister Carl Schlettwein revealed this at the conclusion of official talks between the Presidents of Namibia and Botswana last week.

Under the project, all three countries make use of foot and mouth vaccines, produced in Botswana.

The first civil-military cooperation awareness campaign, involving teams from Namibia and Botswana, will start next week.
 
The campaign, which will cover 23 villages in Namibia and 21 villages in Botswana, is aimed at educating communities living along the common Namibia-Botswana border on the importance of peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness.

The campaign is part of a civil-military cooperation plan launched by the defence ministers of the two countries in June. 

Official talks between Namibia and Botswana, led by President Nangolo Mbumba and visiting President Mokgweetsi Masisi, concluded in Swakopmund this afternoon with a sense that the engagement led to the further strengthening of ties between the two neighbouring countries.

President Mbumba remembered Botswana and President Masisi's solidarity and support during the passing of the late President Hage Geingob. Dr. Mbumba also underscored the importance of regular dialogue and interaction between Namibia and Botswana.

Following the conclusion of official talks between Namibia and Botswana, a joint communiqué was issued.

The communiqué, among others, resolved that the second session of the Namibia-Botswana Binational Commission be held in Windhoek at the end of August.

The Heads of State also touched on the international peace and security situation, including the security and humanitarian situations in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A joint civil-military cooperation plan to sensitise communities residing along the Namibia and Botswana borders with legal movements has been signed between the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) at Katima Mulilo.

The launch of the awareness activities plan will be held on the 11th and 13th of next month in Kasane, Botswana, and Katima Mulilo, respectively, under the theme. "Working Together to Ensure Peaceful Co-existence, Security, and Human Development."

The Executive Director of the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL), Jane Olwoch, said green hydrogen is the way to combat climate change in Namibia in the future.

Dr. Olwoch said this at a Research Dissemination Meeting with SASSCAL Regional Tipping Points in Southern Africa, held in Windhoek on Thursday.

Dr. Olwoch said climate change and the globalisation of economic systems are enormous challenges for societies that demand global collaboration, cooperation, and a global perspective.