Julius Malema 'must apply for visa' to visit Botswana

What you need to know:

  • Mr Malema, a known critic of President Ian Khama, is now a Member of Parliament in South Africa and holds a diplomatic passport.
  • The EFF has said Malema would be coming to Botswana with other members of the party in September.

GABORONE

South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema remains unable to enter Botswana despite his diplomatic passport and may miss an opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) event next month.

Mr Malema is expected to launch UDC’s candidate for Borokanelo ward in Molepolope North, Mr Arafat Khan, but could miss the event because of visa restrictions. Molepolole is Botswana’s biggest village and lies in the south east of the country.

Mr Malema, a known critic of President Ian Khama, is now a Member of Parliament in South Africa and holds a diplomatic passport. But the Botswana government this week reiterated that the ban still stood.

RESTRICTIONS NOT LIFTED

Mr Ikwatlhaeng Bagopi, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, told the Telegraph that the visa restrictions against the former Africa National Congress (ANC) Youth League leader had not been lifted.

“Malema will have to apply for a visa since he was slapped with visa restrictions. As you are aware, the diplomatic passport he is in possession of was given to him by the South African government and that does not mean it will afford him the liberty to come to Botswana without applying for a visa,” said Bagopi.

According to the weekly publication, the EFF had written a letter to the South African High Commissioner to Botswana, Mr Mdu Lembede, seeking assistance on smoothing Mr Malema’s visa application.

WARY OF VOLATILE LEADER

The letter indicated further that Malema would be coming to Botswana with other members of the party in September.

Last year, the EFF leader had to call off a trip to Botswana after the Botswana National Front (BNF) leadership vowed never to allow the leader, who had been expelled from the ANC, to address their party’s youth.

The BNF Youth League had invited the firebrand leader to be a guest at their congress.

The party’s leadership feared the volatile Malema would use his party’s platform to settle scores with the ANC.

The last time Mr Malema visited Botswana he attacked President Khama resulting in the visa restriction.