Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has called on president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to use her official visit to South Africa to push for the resolution of the long-standing Orange River boundary dispute.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Venaani says the territorial dispute has remained unresolved since Namibia’s independence and requires urgent political attention.
He says the president’s engagement with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa presents an opportunity for the two countries to address the matter through dialogue.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is currently in South Africa for bilateral cooperation discussions.
According to Venaani, resolving the dispute is important to safeguard Namibia’s territorial integrity, strengthen bilateral relations and provide certainty on the shared border between the two countries.
Venaani says he has already tabled a motion in the National Assembly calling for the border dispute to be debated, adding that the government should stop delaying action on the matter.
He urges Nandi-Ndaitwah and Ramaphosa to work towards what a fair and lasting solution that protects Namibia’s territorial interests.
“The people of Namibia expect progress. The time for action is now,” Venaani says.
Minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi during the opening of the bi-national commission on Thursday indicated that the matter is one of the key focuses.
