Namibia and Botswana are exploring the possibility of building a joint oil refinery to serve the two countries and the wider Southern African region. 

The announcement was made during the first introductory working visit of Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to Botswana on Thursday. She also visited Zambia on Friday. President Nandi-Ndaitwah met with her counterparts, president Duma Boko of Botswana and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, respectively, in what was described as warm and productive engagements aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, economic integration and historical bonds.

Speaking in Gaborone during bilateral talks with president Boko, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the recent discovery of oil and gas in Namibia provides an opportunity for collaboration. “Now that Namibia has oil and gas, we cannot claim this to be a Namibian resource. It’s a resource in our region, it’s a resource in the neighbourhood, and we can all benefit from it,” she stated.

President Boko agreed, saying the project would only be viable if it considered the region’s combined populations.

“The president was indicating to me after the discovery of oil and gas in Namibia the prospect of establishing a refinery, which on some advice would not be viable because of the size of the population. But it becomes viable if we take the population as not just the people of Namibia, but the people of this sub-region more pointedly, and the people of the African continent more broadly,” he stated.

Trade

The two leaders noted that both Namibia and Botswana are among the most unequal societies in the world, with large sections of their populations left out of economic growth.

“These levels of inequality mean that large sections of our populations in both countries are excluded from the mainstream economy… and that presents a big challenge to our governments,” Boko said. President Nandi-Ndaitwah echoed these concerns, citing youth unemployment as a major problem.

“In Namibia, 44.4% of our young people are unemployed, and we are not taking this very lightly,” she said. 

She added: “Projects that we can jointly embark upon will have a significant impact on our economy, thus making it possible for us to reduce unemployment, which means reducing poverty, and by implication, to reduce the gap between the haves and the have-nots.”

The two presidents agreed to improve cooperation in several key sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, energy, mining and transport. Among the priority areas is the upgrading of the Trans-Kalahari Railway Line to ease the movement of goods and enhance trade between the two countries. 

“Namibia has been very generous to Botswana. We have been given land for a dry port. We are most grateful,” Boko said.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah added: “The fact that we have coastal towns cannot make us selfish and deny our neighbours access to the ports.”

Cooperation

The leaders likewise discussed broader continental issues, and the importance of unity among African countries. They warned against external powers trying to divide African nations, and stressed the need for self-reliance and closer collaboration.

“We now have threats of a serious nature; the SADC region will be split and splintered by external powers. So, we need to exercise heightened vigilance in defence of our sovereignty as countries, in defence of our collective responsibility to our region and our continent as African people,” said president Boko. President Nandi-Ndaitwah said political will is key to overcoming Africa’s challenges.

The two Heads of State agreed to hold the next session of the Namibia-Botswana Bi-National Commission in Windhoek later this year.

A press statement issued by presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari enlightened that the leaders agreed on coordinated diamond sector engagement, including aligning positions ahead of upcoming industry meetings. They then explored the joint certification of medical products to reduce costs and bureaucratic hurdles, aiming for greater health sector efficiency.

In agriculture, the two nations, both key beef exporters, pledged to collaborate on export market access and veterinary services.

Repatriation 

A less-publicised but significant development is the ongoing voluntary repatriation of Ovaherero families from Botswana to Namibia.

“Efforts to voluntarily repatriate the Ovaherero people who wished to return to Namibia with their livestock were proceeding well. A new group of families would be repatriated to Namibia following completion of all modalities on both sides”, the press statement confirmed.

Zambia

President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s next stop was Lusaka, Zambia, where she held talks with president Hakainde Hichilema. The discussions centred on joint infrastructure investments, job-creation and strengthening long-standing ties between the two countries. “Our discussion is human-centred. We agree that our people have trust and confidence in us, that’s why they have elected us into these positions”, said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The leaders agreed on the need to improve cross-border infrastructure, including a pipeline to transport oil from Namibia to Zambia, and the upgrading of the Sesheke border post to support smooth cargo movement.

“Zambia needs commodities like oil that can be transported through the port of Walvis Bay. Hence, we need a pipeline that can make that easier instead of using tankers,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

Hichilema welcomed the cooperation, and praised Namibia for always being a trusted partner.

“You’ve done a good job. You have been called, ‘Ndaitwah’ – the one who is called to serve – not just Namibians, but all of us in our countries,” he said, using the local term that means “the called one.”

The two leaders furthermore discussed agriculture, agro-processing and energy cooperation.

“We recognise the importance of infrastructure in economic development. Our two countries have created a strong basis of cooperation that we have to build on,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The duo emphasised involving the private sector in development, and ensuring that business operations benefit both the governments and the people.

Ties

The visit to Zambia also carried deep symbolic meaning. President Nandi-Ndaitwah previously served as Swapo Chief Representative to Zambia during Namibia’s liberation struggle, and recalled Zambia’s support during that time.

“I recall Zambia as a chief representative operating in our liberation centre, which was once bombed… We are very grateful,” she said. During the visit, Zambia renamed two roads in Lusaka in honour of Namibia’s late presidents, Founding President Sam Nujoma and President Hage Geingob. Hichilema said this was done to show appreciation for the shared history.

“When you came for the inauguration, you paid respect to him when you laid a wreath at his grave, which is lying in our Heroes’ Acre.” 

President Nandi-Ndaitwah also took part in a tree-planting ceremony, honouring Nujoma’s tradition of planting trees every year on his birthday.

Unity

As she concluded her trip, the Namibian leader stressed the importance of continued cooperation with both Botswana and Zambia. 

She returned to Windhoek on Friday evening.