Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Motlalentoa Letsosa has announced that the visa acquisition strings will be constricted while issuance of residence permit will be paused for
the next three months as the country confirms legality of such documentations processes. The concern was triggered by recent findings of illegal activities in the country.
The ministry intends to strengthen internal controls and to combat human trafficking. Letsosa, speaking at the press conference on Monday, said it has come to their realization that people also
tend to acquire Lesotho’s citizenship through unlawful visas, hence a move to tighten visa requirements and demand valid documents from incoming visa holders.
“Most people apply for visas when they want to over stay in other countries for personal reasons, this is
why we are going to stop issuing visas and indefinite permits for three months to access the situation and they will only be issued to people with tangible proof
and documents supporting reasons for such a need. Also, applicants will need to provide necessary proof of requisition of residential permits,” Letsosa stated.
He explained that their study revealed that foreigners use visas to stay longer in Lesotho and while some end up staying forever. He said as they come into the country for various reasons they
usually do not provide physical proof, also, that has not been considered seriously for years. He said they will thus require medical certificate, return
ticket, proof of reasons for coming into the country – employment or academic documents. “This time we are going to do thorough assessment, we came across
people who would say they came for a job then when we refer back to an employer we find no records for such person. That says if a person comes into the
country without a bank account, a letter of employment or any source of income it is possible that he has come for unlawful activities, that is why we will
always have increasing numbers of human trafficking,” he said. The Minister also revealed that there are reports of people who land at the airport but return through the
borders, he said these are suspicious movements that they will monitor during the three months period. Letsosa also stated that there are foreigners who come
into the country and get married to Basotho so that they could acquire citizenship. “We will be on the lookout for similar strategic behaviors,” he added.
