Namibia has pledged to boost trade and diplomatic cooperation with Zimbabwe as the two countries move towards upgrading their relations into a Bi-National Commission (BNC).
This was revealed by Namibia’s outgoing Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Nicklass Kandjii, during a courtesy call on Acting President, General (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga in Harare, yesterday.
Ambassador Kandjii, who is concluding his four-year diplomatic mission in Zimbabwe, highlighted the strategic importance of deepening economic ties, particularly through the operationalisation of the Walvis Bay Dry Port—a trade facility established to provide Zimbabwe with access to international markets.
“Namibia is set to host the inauguration session of the BNC, and once it’s done, I am sure that is a way we can now strengthen relations. It is another way of strengthening our bilateral relations,” said Ambassador Kandjii.
He recalled a 2021 trade mission aimed at promoting regional trade corridors and positioning the Walvis Bay Dry Port as a gateway for Zimbabwean exports to Western markets.
The proposed Bi-National Commission is expected to serve as a high-level platform for enhancing bilateral cooperation across key development sectors and consolidating longstanding political ties.
Ambassador Kandjii also reflected on the shared history between Zimbabwe and Namibia, particularly their cooperation during the liberation struggle and mutual assistance in recent years.
“We discussed issues of mutual interest, especially the excellent relations between Namibia and Zimbabwe and also between ZANU and the SWAPO party. So if you recall, during COVID-19, Zimbabwe really assisted us in airlifting the doses from China to here, and also, while Zimbabwe was in the same boat, they donated 20 000 doses to Namibia,” he said.
To mark the end of his diplomatic tenure, Ambassador Kandjii presented Acting President Constantino Chiwenga with a symbolic gift: a souvenir of the Oryx or Gemsbok, Namibia’s national animal.
Namibia, Zim set to strengthen trade ties through upcoming bi-national commission
