Seithati Motsoeneng
LESOTHO has joined calls for a visa-free Africa, aligning itself with a growing continental movement to promote seamless travel, tourism, and economic integration.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lejone Mpotjoane, said Lesotho was already advocating for visa-free travel within Africa and has lifted visa requirements for some countries.
“As the government of Lesotho, we are already championing the Visa-Free Africa initiative. It is no longer a necessity for citizens of certain countries to obtain a visa to visit Lesotho,” Mr Mpotjoane said.
However, he cautioned that while the borderless Africa concept was a good initiative, its implementation faced challenges.
“Borders serve as precautionary measures against illicit cross-border activities. The idea of a borderless Africa is good, but it requires careful consideration of issues related to national safety and security.”
Mr Mpotjoane’s remarks came during a visit by the Trans-Africa Tourism and Unity Campaign team, a government of Ghana-backed initiative advocating for a visa-free Africa.
The campaign team, led by former Ghanaian Member of Parliament, Ras Mubarak, arrived in Lesotho this week to share their vision with the government and seek its endorsement for a borderless continent.
The team has embarked on a 163-day road trip across 39 African countries, engaging governments, traditional leaders, and citizens to promote visa-free tourism and economic integration.
Mr Mubarak said the campaign is in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to deliver inclusive and sustainable development while promoting Pan-African unity, freedom, and collective prosperity.
He said the time to act is now if Africa is to achieve economic transformation.
“Every dollar spent outside Africa impoverishes another African, leading to suppressed economies. Africa needs to come together to boost intra-African tourism and trade — we are stronger when we trade among ourselves,” Mr Mubarak said.
Lesotho’s beautiful weather and landscape give it huge tourism potential that could thrive even more under a borderless Africa, he said.
“Our aim is to create a connected Africa, not only through ease of travel but also by stimulating business and trade among African nations.”
Mr Mubarak questioned the logic of maintaining travel restrictions between African countries, saying such barriers contradict the spirit of unity.
“As brothers and sisters, why must we harass each other while we already face enough challenges from outside the continent?” he asked.
He emphasised the need to remove fear and mistrust among African nations and work collectively towards a shared future.
“We need to remove the fear of one another, and the time to act is now. Every family may have delinquents, but that should not define everyone,” he said.
He commended countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, and Benin for scrapping visa requirements for African travellers, saying their experiences prove that open borders do not promote illicit migration but, instead, stimulate economic activity.
Since embarking on their journey on August 18, 2025, the campaign has received widespread support, including endorsements from high-level officials in Botswana, Angola, the Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, and several other African nations.
