Richard Mantu
29 July 2005
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) aims to eliminate visa requirements by as early as 2006, paving the way for the free movement of people and goods in the region.
This follows the approval on Wednesday of a draft protocol on the facilitation of movement of persons that will be tabled at a summit in Gaborone, Botswana next month when SADC heads of state and government meet.
SADC Executive Secretary Prega Ramsamy said the protocol meant that all SADC citizens would in the near future be allowed free entry into the region's countries without the need for visas.
He told journalists that the SADC Treaty was clear about the need to promote economic growth and socio-economic development in the region.
"The specific objective is to facilitate entry into member states without the need for a visa for a maximum period of 90 days per year," Ramsamy said.
"The SADC shall eliminate obstacles to the free movement of capital and labour, goods and services and of people in the region generally among member states."
The protocol is a means to give effect to the SADC Treaty.
Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told BuaNews that although some member states had visa agreements, to eliminate visa requirements might take some time.
She said member states' immigration laws and systems had to be harmonised first.
South Africa became an SADC member in 1994. The 13 other members are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles and Zimbabwe.
Source: BuaNews
