KEY POINTS
-
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah visited Zimbabwe to strengthen diplomatic, trade, and infrastructure ties.
-
Bilateral talks with President Mnangagwa focused on the Trans-Kalahari Corridor and boosting regional economic integration.
-
The visit included symbolic tributes and cultural tours, reaffirming the shared liberation history between the two nations.
Namibian President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has concluded her first official diplomatic visit to Zimbabwe since assuming office, marking a significant step toward deepening bilateral relations and regional integration.
The president arrived on May 20, 2025, at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to a warm reception by senior Zimbabwean officials, including Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Namibia, Melody Chaurura, and Minister of Skills Audit and Development, Paul Mavima.
Herald online reports that her three-day working visit was centered around strengthening trade ties, enhancing infrastructure development, and consolidating diplomatic cooperation between Namibia and Zimbabwe—two nations with a shared liberation history and common regional aspirations.
Bilateral talks with Nandi-Ndaitwah centre on infrastructure, trade, and regional stability
The high point of the visit occurred at State House in Harare, where President Nandi-Ndaitwah met with SADC Chairperson and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa for formal bilateral discussions.
“We are so happy that our relations are strengthening and continue to deepen, and I am happy that my sister found the opportunity to visit Zimbabwe,” said President Mnangagwa after the talks. “It is an honour.”
The leaders explored various areas of cooperation, with a strong emphasis on boosting trade and connectivity through infrastructural development. President Nandi-Ndaitwah, accompanied by her husband, First Gentleman Lt. Gen. Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, underscored the importance of trade facilitation through regional corridors.
“What we are discussing here is how best we can facilitate trade between our two countries. The Trans-Kalahari Corridor is one infrastructure that is critical for such trade,” she stated. “We are calling on business people from Namibia, Zimbabwe, and the region to collaborate and make use of this infrastructure.”
In line with the goals of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the two leaders agreed to continue advancing regional stability, economic development, and integration through practical, cooperative measures.
The visit also featured symbolic moments of reflection and cultural exchange. President Nandi-Ndaitwah laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Zimbabwe’s National Heroes Acre in honor of fallen liberation heroes.
“Standing before this monument, I am reminded of the sacrifices that made our independence possible. This place echoes the unity of our histories,” she noted solemnly.
She also toured the Museum of African Liberation at the Liberation City in Harare, which documents the collective struggles and triumphs of Africa’s liberation movements.
As the visit drew to a close, President Nandi-Ndaitwah departed Zimbabwe from the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, where she was seen off by top government officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, and other dignitaries.
Observers say the visit not only reaffirmed historical ties between the two nations but also set a new tone for increased collaboration in areas such as logistics, infrastructure, trade, and diplomacy.
Political analysts across the region view the visit as a reaffirmation of SADC’s goals for a united and economically integrated Southern Africa, emphasizing solidarity in the face of global challenges.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to continue her diplomatic engagements with other SADC member states in the coming months as she seeks to position Namibia as a key player in regional development and intra-African trade.
