Visa Waivers Without Reciprocity: A Flawed Policy That Fails Zambians
By Thompson K Luzendi
The UPND government’s recent decision to extend visa waivers to over 50 additional countries is an ill-conceived move that raises serious questions about their commitment to protecting Zambia’s sovereignty, national security, and the interests of its citizens. This policy, which comes on the heels of a similar decision two years ago, continues to extend open borders to nations that have not reciprocated this gesture. While it is presented as a strategy to boost tourism and investment, its benefits remain questionable, and the risks it poses cannot be ignored.
The visa waiver policy is fundamentally flawed because it disproportionately disadvantages Zambian citizens. While visitors from these 50+ countries can now enter Zambia without needing a visa, Zambians are not afforded the same privilege when traveling to these nations. This lack of reciprocity makes the policy not just impractical but deeply unfair.
For example, Zambians traveling to many of these countries must navigate complicated and often expensive visa processes, facing long waiting periods and high rejection rates. By contrast, the UPND government is giving citizens of these nations unfettered access to Zambia, effectively prioritizing their convenience over the rights and dignity of Zambians. This is a betrayal of the very people the government is supposed to represent.
Opening our borders in such a careless manner is also a serious threat to Zambia’s national security, some of the countries we have opened our borders to are known for organized criminality. Visa waivers make it easier for bad actors, including human traffickers, organized crime syndicates, and other malicious individuals, to enter the country unchecked. Without the vetting processes that visas provide, Zambia risks becoming a haven for activities that could destabilize the nation and put its citizens at risk.
The government claims that these visa waivers will boost tourism and attract foreign investment. However, there is little evidence to suggest that this policy has yielded substantial economic benefits. Tourism remains a sector that requires infrastructure development, marketing, and broader policies to succeed—not just relaxed visa requirements.
Meanwhile, foreign investment decisions are rarely swayed by visa policies alone. Investors are more concerned with stable governance, favorable economic policies, and the ease of doing business in a country. Visa waivers, therefore, are unlikely to move the needle in attracting the kind of investment Zambia needs.
The hypocrisy of this policy becomes even more glaring when viewed in the context of Zambians’ struggles to travel abroad. Our citizens face insurmountable challenges when seeking visas for study, business, or tourism. Embassies in Zambia often require invasive documentation, high fees, and long waiting times. Why, then, should Zambia make it easier for citizens of those same countries to visit us?
This one-sided generosity undermines Zambia’s bargaining position on the global stage. A government that truly represents its people would demand reciprocity, ensuring that any country benefitting from a visa waiver offers the same privilege to Zambians.
Zambia’s borders must serve as gateways for mutual benefit, not as open doors for exploitation. If the UPND government continues to prioritize the interests of others over the welfare of its own citizens, they risk alienating the very people who put them in office. This flawed visa waiver policy must be reversed before it further compromises Zambia’s sovereignty, security, and dignity on the world stage.
The UPND govt is clearly hellbent on serving foreign interests at the expense of our people, but this is expected from a political party that is controlled by imperialists whose sole interest is to loot our natural resources and exploit our people. This must end in 2026! Aluta Continue.
Visa Waivers Without Reciprocity: A Flawed Policy That Fails Zambians
