Zimbabwe and Botswana are actively engaged in negotiations for a bilateral agreement aimed at abolishing visa requirements for their respective citizens, aligning themselves with the increasing trend among African nations to facilitate easier entry for visitors from the continent.
President Emmerson of Zimbabwe underscored the significance of this collaborative effort, stating, “The two of us have agreed because we are African. We should be able to walk into Botswana, walk into Zambia, walk into Kenya. Why should we restrict ourselves?” President Emmerson revealed that this decision emerged from a recent discussion with President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana.
Highlighting the need to transcend historical constraints, President Emmerson emphasized, “We impose constraints on ourselves which are more colonial than they are patriotic, so we agreed that he (President Masisi) himself on his side and myself on my side are going to instruct the relevant departments to ease these constraints of movement of people between our two countries.”
This initiative aligns with a broader trend across the continent, where numerous African nations have introduced reciprocal visa-free movement arrangements. Notable examples include Botswana and Namibia, South Africa and Ghana, and Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, all implementing such agreements in the current year.
Rwanda has already taken steps to ease visa restrictions for Africans, allowing visas on entry. Additionally, Seychelles, Gambia, and Benin have adopted a policy of allowing visa-free entry for Africans, a measure currently under consideration by the government of Kenya. This collective effort reflects a growing commitment among African nations to promote greater ease of movement and collaboration on the continent.
