Door for visa closes on Bushiri
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday May 19, 2017 12:14
This follows after the Department of Immigration and Citizenship confirmed yesterday that they have not received his visa application.
The controversial South Africa-based Bushiri needs to apply for entry into Botswana after he was put on visa restrictions by the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Edwin Batshu on April 26, 2017.
The department said that it takes 14 working days to process visa applications, but Bushiri is yet to apply, at least seven days before the event. This could mean that the prophet could miss out on joining his supporters at the National Stadium.
Chief public relations officer at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Hannah Ramorogo told Mmegi that visa applications are processed from Mondays to Fridays for 14 days.
However, Ramorogo said that there are instances where the process could be expedited with individuals being granted express visas. “Only when there are emergency cases, it is only then that we can issue an express visa.
But that is done on case by case basis,” she said.
Ramorogo could not be drawn to discuss if Bushiri’s case would be treated as an emergency since he was only put on the visa list recently.
It has been reported in local media that his representatives are working around the clock to apply for his visa, it remains to be seen whether the church would be able to acquire it on time for his crusade on May 27, 2017.
Bushiri commands a strong following in Botswana, with multitudes attending his services and crusades in South Africa. He is the leader of Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) in Pretoria, South Africa. Malawians like South Africans, do not require a visa to enter Botswana, but Bushiri put under visa restrictions.
He is not the first one to be put under such restrictions, as Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema was also placed on the visa restriction list a few years ago.