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China and Namibia will soon operationalise the agreement of visa-free travel between the two countries. The Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Albert Kawana told Parliament that the agreement is only limited to travellers staying for 30 days or in transit, while persons intending to stay longer than that for work, studies or in other purposes, will have to apply for visas prior.
This will provide Namibian citizens with an opportunity to directly source goods from China for their own business or for their own use. Currently, West Africa is doing that. This was done in an attempt to attract more tourists to Namibia, negotiations started nearly five years ago to target countries whose nationals are regarded as high-value tourists. This includes the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. On the other hand, there are concerns that the agreement will lead to the proliferation of Chinese nationals in Namibia.
The draft agreement stipulates that citizen of the People’s Republic of China holding valid diplomatic, service, public affairs or ordinary passports of the People’s Republic of China, and Namibians having the same, shall be exempted from visa requirements for entry into, exit from or transit through the territory of the other contracting party, for a period of stay not exceeding thirty days from the date of their entry.
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The agreement does not restrict the right of either contracting party to prohibit unacceptable citizens from entering its territory or terminate their stay in its territory without citing reasons therefore. It is clear from the main provisions of the draft agreement that issues such as work, contracts, and settlement have nothing to do with the agreement since they are expressly excluded.
Negotiations with Russia were concluded in 2021 and the agreement was signed on 14 April 2021. According to the Minister, terms cover all types of passport holders of diplomatic, official and ordinary passports for a period of 90 days.
