Namibia business visa clampdown cuts short FTW journo's visit

Anyone travelling to
Namibia on business is
advised to ensure they have
a business visa – even if the
purpose is a single meeting.
That’s the advice from
FTW Africa correspondent
Ed Richardson whose
annual fact-finding trip to
Namibia was cut short by
a customs officer at Walvis
Bay airport.
Ahead of the business trip,
the FTW team was advised
that visas were not necessary
if one was attending
meetings.
In May last year it was
announced that South
African passport holders
visiting Namibia for
conference and meetings
purposes no longer required
a visa.
In fact colleague Yolande
Langenhoven was allowed
through without restrictions
even though she was
standing at a customs
counter next to Ed and
confirmed that they were
travelling together.
It is not only customs
officials who interpret
the visa requirements
differently.
There is no consistency on
the various government and
business websites as to when
a business visa is required.
Reactions in Namibia
were mixed, with stories of
people being locked up for a
night when trying to exit the
border after their business
visa had expired.
Others – as seemed to
have happened at Walvis Bay
to a training facilitator – are
sent back on the next plane.
Attempts to obtain a
visa while in Namibia
failed despite support
from a government-funded
organisation which has links
to Home Affairs.
Requirements for a
business visa can be found
on http://www.mha.gov.na/
visas