Zimbabwe and Namibia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, with a renewed push to harness regional infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Kalahari Corridor for economic integration and inclusive development. During a high-level State visit to Harare by Namibian President Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, accompanied by First Gentleman Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, both nations signalled their intention to invigorate their economic ties through enhanced trade facilitation, infrastructural development, and private sector participation.
In a closed-door meeting held at State House on Tuesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa described the engagement as warm and strategic, highlighting the growing camaraderie between Harare and Windhoek. “We had excellent discussions with my dear sister, the President, exchanging our warm relations between Zimbabwe and of course strengthening those relations, cooperating in all aspects of our endeavour. We are so happy that our relations are strengthening and continue to deepen,” said President Mnangagwa, affirming the momentum behind the bilateral partnership.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah, speaking after the meeting, singled out the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, a key transnational infrastructure route linking Namibia’s Walvis Bay to the broader SADC region, as a strategic focal point for regional trade facilitation. She called on business communities in both countries to actively engage in the utilisation and expansion of such infrastructure, describing it as a cornerstone for economic empowerment. “The Trans-Kalahari Corridor is one such critical infrastructure. We are calling on businesspeople from both Namibia and Zimbabwe and across the region, to collaborate and make full use of the facilities being developed,” she said.
Her remarks reflect a broader call for economic diplomacy that empowers local enterprises while boosting cross-border trade. She noted that Namibia had allocated dry ports to its neighbours, including Zimbabwe, to be operated primarily by the private sector. “While these ports are managed by governments, they are intended for private sector use, to stimulate business, drive economic growth, and ultimately create employment. By doing so, we aim to reduce poverty and close the economic gap between the haves and the have-nots,” she added.
Zimbabwe is already benefiting from the Walvis Bay Dry Port, which has been instrumental in enhancing trade access to global markets. The two countries are now exploring additional avenues for cooperation in economic and infrastructural sectors, with a shared understanding that sustainable development hinges on regional connectivity and the active participation of the private sector.
The strategic meeting and associated discussions come at a critical time when African nations are aligning themselves with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals and SADC’s industrialisation and infrastructure development agendas. The Zimbabwe-Namibia partnership stands as a testament to the growing intra-African solidarity aimed at fostering economic resilience, reducing dependency, and accelerating continental integration through smart, inclusive and trade-enabling infrastructure.
