OP silent on lifting of Malema visa restriction
The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) parliamentary hopeful for Molepolole North, Arafat Khan is frustrated with the Office of the President for not responding to his request for the lifting of Visa restrictions on Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leaders.
Khan wrote a letter to President Mokgweetsi Masisi in April this year pleading with him to reverse the decision that was taken by former President, Ian Khama's administration in 2013 to impose Visa restrictions on EFF President Julius Malema and other party leaders being Floyd Shivambu, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Advocate Dali Mpofu, and Magdalene Moonsamy.
In 2011, while President of the ANC Youth League, Malema described Khama and his Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) as “a footstool of imperialism” and “a security threat to Africa”, adding that the ANC Youth League would establish a Command Team to unite opposition parties in Botswana for regime change.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a breakaway party of the African National Congress (ANC).
“I confirm that I have not received any response from the Office of the President since I wrote to them on the 11th of April this year. All attempts to follow up proved futile as the officer seemed clueless regarding my correspondence.
“For three hours I was moving from one office to another. Later I received a call from OP alleging that they may have misplaced my letter,” Khan said in an interview this week.
He however revealed that he would not give up on the matter and will follow it to its logical conclusion. Khan has a close relationship with Malema. He has attended several activities of the EFF in South Africa. In 2014 Malema was billed to launch Khan as a council candidate for Borakalalo Ward in Molepolole North but the plans were thwarted by the Visa restrictions. Malema and his entourage had their Visa application denied.
In a formal letter addressed to President Masisi, Khan places emphasis on the longstanding visa requirement for Malema, Shivambu, Ndlozi, Advocate Mpofu, and Moonsamy, who are all influential members of the EFF in South Africa.
“As you are aware your Excellency, in 2023 the government of the Republic of Botswana took a decision that for Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, Advocate Dali Mpofu, and Magdalene Moonsamy to enter the Republic of Botswana, they are required to apply and be granted Visa.
“These are leaders within the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party and Moonsamy, whom I understand is now with the ANC,” Khan said in the letter.
He explained that ordinarily, citizens of the Republic of South Africa do not require a visa to enter Botswana and is shocked that a citizen of South Africa who is also a renowned Pan-Africanist, Malema is required to apply for visa. Citing Botswana’s commitment to good governance, democracy, and African solidarity, Khan appealed to President Masisi’s conscience and urges a reconsideration of the 2013 decision that necessitates a visa application for the EFF president and his associates.
“In the spirit of good governance, deepening African solidarity, and constitutionalism, I write to humbly request your government to reconsider its 2013 decision,” Khan wrote in his letter, arguing against the use of state apparatus to hinder political dissent.
He emphasised that individuals with diverse political perspectives should not face impediments to their movement, especially in a multi-party democracy like Botswana.