Opposition Youth want Julius Malema's visa listing lifted
Botswana’s opposition youth leaders who hold South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema in high esteem want his name removed from the Visa list.
The former African National Congress youth leader, Malema earned the wrath of Botswana government after he accused its leadership of being a ‘stooge’ of the West and called for regime change in Botswana. Botswana Congress Party (BCP) youth president Tumiso Rakgare says that government’s inclusion of Malema in the visa list lacks logic since Malema is not a criminal. “Instead he is a courageous and brave African youth leader fighting for social democracy. He has even shamed his detractors and is one of the most rising role models in Africa.”
Kabelo Maphuru, the Botswana National Front (BNF) Secretary for International Affairs Abednico, also concurs that the country’s leadership must be pressured to remove Malema from the visa list as it makes the country a laughing stock of other African countries. ‘’Malema’s only wrongdoing was calling for a regime change in Botswana since he did not agree with some of the country’s stance on matters concerning Africa in general,” he says.
Political analyst Ndulamo Morima says the opposition youth can challenge Malema’s ban in court if they strongly feel the decision was wrong. “If these youths are really eager to challenge the state, they can drag the concerned minister to court to bring out evidence which shows that Malema is a national threat to this country but if there is nothing then he will be granted his visa.”
Morima said the nation is not aware that Malema is a threat to national security or public order as he is currently a President of the third largest political party in South Africa as well as Member of Parliament (MP). “According to international practice, once an MP is regarded a national security threat, they are immediately relieved of their duties and under our case, Malema is not regarded as such in his country or elsewhere except in Botswana,” he said.
Labour and Home Affairs Minister Edwin Batshu told The Midweek Sun that Botswana has a list of foreigners who are required by law to apply for Visa whenever they intend to visit Botswana. “People should know that it is not only Malema who is required to apply for a Visa to enter Botswana as there are many other foreigners included in our visa list,” he said.
Furthermore, it is not only Botswana that requires Visas from foreigners entering the country but it is international practice for countries to do so for security reasons. Batshu said there are relevant officers working in the back rooms who determine as to whether a foreigner qualifies for a Visa or does not based on the set rules.
“Once such people are granted a Visa, we monitor them and determine when they have entered as well as when they have departed and there absolutely is nothing wrong with the current arrangement by the state,” he said.
Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) youth president Phenyo Segokgo told this publication that Malema’s inclusion in the Visa list is an embarrassment to Africa as it clearly reflects that Botswana does not adhere to the principles of democracy as its current regime seems to be angered by freedom of expression on matters of politics and economics.
Segokgo said that it is high time for Batswana youth to challenge Khama to scrap off Malema’s ban as he is advocating for exactly what the opposition is yearning for in this country. Efforts to get a comment from Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) youth office hit a blank as the youth president was unavailable at press time.
