KAZUNGULA – Botswana and Zambia have agreed on a new cross-border travel arrangement allowing citizens to use national identity cards instead of passports when crossing the Kazungula Bridge, in what officials describe as a major step toward regional integration.
The agreement, announced by the governments of Botswana and Zambia, is aimed at simplifying movement for citizens between the two countries and improving trade and cooperation along the shared border.
President Duma Boko of Botswana and President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia said the initiative reflects a shared vision of deeper regional unity and reduced travel barriers for ordinary citizens.
Officials said the new system will initially apply at the Kazungula Bridge border post, a key trade and transport corridor connecting the two countries, before potential expansion to other entry points.
Supporters of the agreement say it could significantly boost cross-border trade, tourism, and social ties, while also reducing delays caused by passport processing and border congestion.
However, authorities noted that immigration and security checks will still remain in place, with the system designed to facilitate easier identification rather than remove border controls entirely.
The development has been widely discussed as part of a broader push toward greater African regional integration, particularly within Southern Africa’s economic cooperation frameworks.
Analysts say the move, if successfully implemented, could serve as a model for similar arrangements in other parts of the continent where countries are working to ease movement restrictions while maintaining security oversight.
