The EFF condemns autocratic military government of Botswana's refusal to grant CIC Julius Malema a visa

12 September 2014

The Economic Freedom Fighters condemns the refusal by the autocratic military government of Botswana to grant the CIC Julius Malema a visa.

There are absolutely no grounds for a so-called democratic country to refuse a person a VISA merely on the basis that he holds a different political view to that of the government.

This refusal to grant the CIC permission to visit Botswana confirms that Botswana is not a democratic country. There can never be a democratic country that refuses those who disagree with the acts of its government permission to be visit it. Neither does a democratic government arrest journalists like Botswana did the editor of Sunday Standard Outsa Mokone for publishing a critical story about the ruling dictator Ian Khama.

This is important particularly in light of the approaching elections, which means the dictator is suppressing dissent to stay in power.

First the CIC Julius Malema has been subjected to a process where he is the only citizen of the 50 million plus South Africans who needs a VISA to visit what is a SADC country. Secondly, Botswana treats the CIC as the only leader of a party represented in the Parliament of South Africa who cannot be permitted to visit Botswana. Essentially, Botswana has rejected a representative of the people of South Africa in parliament a right to visit the people of Botswana, treating him as if he is a terrorist.

The EFF further condemns the silence of the South African government, in particular the department of International Relations and Cooperation at the face of this injustice. It will be for the first time that an African child is refused freedom of movement in any part of the continent merely to please USA imperialists. What is the difference between refusing the CIC entry into Botswana and the politically motivated sanctions imposed by the West on President Mugabe who is the sitting chair of SADC?

The EFF will raise this injustice with the Pan-African Parliament as well the South African Parliament to ensure that there is recourse to Botswana. This autocratic military government of Botswana has refused CIC a VISA even when the Batswana people want him to visit.

Botswana is afraid of the power of his message and the message of economic freedom. This message however will never be stopped through VISA refusals as it will continue to capture the hearts of the African people for the broader struggle to bestow upon the continent a economically free future.

Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, September 12 2014

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter