Zimbabwe, Botswana agree to scrap passports in phased approach

Zimbabwe and Botswana have agreed to work towards scrapping passport requirements for citizens travelling between the two countries, in favour of using national identity documents under a phased integration plan aimed at enhancing free movement and regional cooperation.

The proposal was announced during the 5th Bi-National Commission held at State House, jointly presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Botswana President Duma Boko.

President Mnangagwa said the two nations should move towards a system where citizens—starting with border communities and short-term travellers—can cross borders using national identity cards instead of passports.

He described Zimbabweans and Batswana as "one family," stressing historical and cultural ties between the countries.

The proposed system would also include harmonised immigration systems, one-stop border posts, digital clearance platforms and improved trader facilitation schemes to reduce the cost of doing business.

However, officials said the plan is still in its early stages and will require legal and technological frameworks before implementation.

President Boko supported the initiative, saying his country is working on introducing advanced digital identity systems, including "cryptic graphic national identity cards" that could be accessed via smartphones.

He said the aim is to modernise border management and ensure compatibility between both countries' systems.

"We are in the process of deploying the requisite technology to achieve this," he said, noting that coordination would be essential to avoid delays between the two states.

President Boko said migration between the two countries is driven largely by skills and economic opportunities, particularly in sectors such as mining.

He noted that Zimbabwean workers often move to Botswana and vice versa, contributing skills and later integrating into local communities.

"People move from one country to the next for different reasons… we are the same people, so there should not be any difficulty," he said.

He added that fears about migrants taking jobs are often misplaced, arguing that economic mobility can benefit both countries when properly managed.

The Botswana leader also urged the media to promote positive reporting about Africa's development, cautioning against narratives that portray the continent negatively.

He said African journalists should highlight success stories and development progress rather than echoing external perceptions of poverty and instability.

Zimbabwe and Botswana have maintained strong relations since the liberation struggle era, with cooperation now expanding into trade, infrastructure, security, and digital transformation.

If fully implemented, the ID-based travel system would mark one of the most significant cross-border mobility reforms in the region, potentially reshaping movement within Southern Africa.