In a move set to revolutionize travel across Southern Africa, five countries have committed to expanding the use of a special common visa, paving the way for easier cross-border tourism.
The nations of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe - which make up the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area - have reached an agreement in principle to broaden the application of the KAZA univisa.
Currently, this special visa allows entry into Zambia and Zimbabwe, with limited day trips to Botswana. But regional leaders attending the KAZA heads of state summit in Livingstone, Zambia, have set their sights on extending the univisa's reach.
"We must simply say that this will happen," declared Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema. "I am grateful that my colleagues have reached consensus on the univisa."
Botswana Vice President Slumber Tsogwane echoed this sentiment, pledging his country's full adoption of the univisa scheme.
The move is part of a broader effort to boost tourism and economic cooperation across Southern Africa, by streamlining the travel experience for visitors. KAZA member states also plan to urge the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to lift the ban on elephant and ivory trade, arguing that they hold $1 billion worth of stockpiles to fund conservation efforts.
As the region looks to capitalize on its natural wonders, this collaborative approach to visa facilitation could prove a game-changer, unlocking Southern Africa's vast tourism potential.
