President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi is scheduled to arrive in Windhoek, Namibia this evening to partake in the memorial service and burial of the recently deceased third Namibian President, Dr. Hage Geingob. President Masisi will be among other regional heads of state and dignitaries expected to attend the memorial service at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek tomorrow, followed by the funeral at the majestic Heroes Acre on Sunday. Dr. Geingob was one of the Southern African heads of state with whom Dr. Masisi shared a strong personal relationship. The flourishing relations between Botswana and Namibia in recent years can be attributed, in part, to the bond of friendship between the two presidents. Coincidentally, Saturday�s memorial service commemorating Dr. Geingob's life falls on February 24, exactly a year since President Masisi and his Namibian counterpart initiated the use of national identity cards for their citizens to cross at ports of entry between the two states without passports. This serves as a poignant reminder of the efforts made to strengthen ties between the two countries. Since 2018, Presidents Masisi and Geingob have worked on enhancing bilateral relations, facilitating the movement of people and goods, and exploring opportunities to deepen trade links, including the proposed Trans Kalahari Railway and the existing Botswana dry port at Walvis Bay. Their collaboration was instrumental in resolving a potential diplomatic dispute following an incident where Botswana Defence Force soldiers fatally shot four Namibians in the Chobe River in November 2020. Through diplomatic channels, they successfully addressed the issue, demonstrating maturity and preserving the strong bond between the two sister states. Botswana and Namibia share a 1,583km border, largely delimited by the Anglo-German Treaty of 1890. This historical agreement, along with subsequent developments, has shaped the modern borders between the two countries. Born on August 3, 1941, in Otjiwarongo, Dr. Geingob played a significant role in Namibia's struggle for independence. He served as Namibia�s first Prime Minister after independence in 1990 and later became President in 2015. His close relationship with President Masisi has been pivotal in strengthening the ties between Botswana and Namibia, characterized by commonalities in population, economy, and cultural identities. Both countries boast similar middle-income economies, with diamond and beef trading being prominent industries. Moreover, they share cross-border cultural identities, enriching the bond between the two nations.