By John Chola

In a powerful reaffirmation of Namibia-Zambia ties, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the newly elected President of the Republic of Namibia and the country’s first female Head of State, arrives in Lusaka this evening, May 15, for her first official visit to Zambia since assuming office.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah will be warmly welcomed by senior Zambian government officials at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport ahead of a full day of official engagements with President Hakainde Hichilema on Friday, May 16.

Her visit, steeped in the symbolism of history and shared struggle, is seen as a significant diplomatic step towards enhancing bilateral relations and deepening cooperation between the two Southern African neighbours.

Tributes Etched in Stone and Streets

In a poignant moment that captures the emotional and historical bond between Namibia and Zambia, President Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to deliver a keynote address at a Street Renaming Ceremony in Lusaka where two prominent roads will be rechristened in honour of Namibia’s liberation heroes.

Kasama Street will be renamed after Namibia’s Founding President and Father of the Nation, Dr. Sam Nujoma, while Sadzu Street now bears the name of Dr. Hage Gottfried Geingob, the late third President of Namibia.

Both leaders lived in Zambia during the height of the liberation struggle, making the renaming not only a tribute but a symbolic return home.

This gesture is a moment of great pride and reflection as Zambia was a haven for many of Southern African nations’ freedom fighters during the dark days of colonial rule.
These streets now immortalize a shared legacy that neither time nor borders can erase.

President Hichilema, is expected to stand alongside his Namibian counterpart during the ceremony, reaffirming Zambia’s commitment to strengthening regional solidarity and the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.

Talks Rooted in Shared Growth

President Nandi-Ndaitwah and President Hichilema will hold bilateral talks focused on expanding trade and investment, regional infrastructure development, and enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including energy, education, agriculture, and tourism.

Top on the agenda is the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) at the Katima Mulilo Border, a bilateral project designed to ease the movement of people and goods between the two countries and bolster the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor—a key route for regional trade.

Also to be discussed are opportunities for Zambia to further capitalize on its dry port in Walvis Bay, Namibia’s Atlantic gateway, which plays a critical role in land-linked trade within the region.

From Solidarity to Shared Prosperity

The visit has been lauded by regional analysts as a continuation of the liberation-era camaraderie between Zambia and Namibia, now maturing into strategic economic cooperation.

Since Namibia’s independence, the two countries have built robust partnerships across numerous sectors, including mining, health, legal affairs, and education.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s presence in Lusaka is not just diplomatic—it’s historic.

As the first woman to lead Namibia, her visit also marks a new era of leadership on the continent, one defined by mutual respect, inclusivity, and shared development.

The Namibian leader departs Zambia on the afternoon of May 16 to conclude her two-nation working visit, which also included an engagement with President Duma Boko of Botswana earlier today.