Build Zambia 2064 has described the newly introduced visa fee hike for Zambians traveling to the United States as a wake-up call for African nations to stop being “puppets of the West.”
This follows an announcement by the U.S. government that citizens from Zambia and Malawi will now be required to pay a $15,000 bond when applying for tourist or business visas, a measure aimed at curbing visa overstays.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News, Build Zambia 2064 Executive Director, Joseph Mushalika, urged the Zambian government to reciprocate the move by imposing similar visa requirements on American nationals visiting Zambia.
“It is time for the Zambian government to also slap visa fees on Americans, because we are all independent and equal partners in development,” said Dr. Mushalika.
He emphasized that Zambia is more than capable of engaging with other nations beyond the U.S, adding that the newly introduced visa policy offers no real value in return for Zambia.
Dr. Mushalika encouraged Zambians to instead channel such amounts, including the $15,000, into local, Zambian-owned businesses to help grow the domestic economy.
By Christabel Kamunu
