Zambia and Botswana signed a landmark agreement on Thursday to boost cross-border electricity trade and strengthen regional energy cooperation. Signed at the 2025 Energy Forum for Africa in Lusaka, the deal will allow power exports between the two countries and connect northern and southern Africa to larger energy markets.
The MoU was signed on behalf of Zambia by Acting Energy Minister Elvis Nkandu and Botswana’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo. Nkandu described the agreement as a milestone for regional collaboration, given that it covers electricity as well as petroleum products. “We need to ensure that transmission infrastructure operates in both directions, in addition to enhancing collaboration on downstream petroleum supplies,” he remarked.
Minister Kenewendo welcomed the agreement as a key step in firming up the Southern African Power Pool. She noted that poor infrastructure in one country can weaken the whole region. “This MoU is a shift in how we work together and develop together,” she said, calling for further support on feasibility studies, power plant construction, and distribution lines.
The transaction is a day after President Hakainde Hichilema urged African nations to accelerate regional power interconnectors. President Hichilema, who spoke at the forum, indicated that additional energy collaboration is key for food security via irrigation and powering industrial growth. He called for eliminating “artificial boundaries” in the energy sector and investing in cross-border infrastructure to allow electricity sharing between regions.
Experts say the Zambia-Botswana agreement will make it easier to fund power projects across southern Africa. By linking national grids, countries can generate energy more efficiently, cut costs, and better manage power shortages. The agreement also encourages cooperation on petroleum supplies, supporting the goal of regional energy integration.
This partnership supports President Hichilema’s goal of building a stronger, more connected energy sector in Southern Africa. Working together, the two countries aim to speed up new transmission projects, boost electricity trade, and encourage sustainable growth in the region.
Energy experts say regional cooperation is crucial as Southern Africa faces growing demand for reliable electricity. They see this agreement as a practical move toward building a stronger, connected power system that can support industry, create jobs, and drive economic growth.
As Zambia and Botswana move forward with this agreement, their partnership could inspire other African countries to strengthen energy security and regional ties. This deal marks a big step toward Africa’s goal of using shared energy resources to boost economic growth and integration.
