Govt slaps visa regulations on critics

In the latest Government Gazette of March 23, 2007, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Charles Tibone, has evoked a Visa Requirement clause from the Immigration Act to target 17 individuals from the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Canada. The targeted individuals who now need a visa to enter Botswana contrarily appear to comprise primarily  rights activists, academics and journalists.

The Government Gazette notice stipulates that:  "In accordance with regulation 5 (1) of the Immigration (Visa) Regulations, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs hereby declares that the persons listed ... are to obtain a visa to enter into Botswana". Under normal circumstances, the nationals of the above-mentioned four countries are exempt from Botswana visa requirements.