By Shingirai Vambe
The Trump administration is considering a new travel ban that could affect citizens from as many as 43 countries, including Zimbabwe. This ban would be broader than the restrictions imposed during President Trump’s first term, with three tiers of countries facing varying degrees of entry restrictions into the United States.
The most stringent restriction level, dubbed the “red” list, would flatly bar citizens from 11 countries from entering the US. These countries include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen. This list was compiled by diplomatic and security officials, who developed a draft list of recommendations.
A second tier, labeled as the “orange” list, comprises 10 nations where visa restrictions would be significantly tightened. Citizens from countries like Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan would still be able to travel but would face more stringent vetting processes.
The third tier, or “yellow” list, includes 22 countries given a 60-day window to address concerns related to security practices, data sharing, and passport issuance. Zimbabwe falls under this category, along with other countries like Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu, and Antigua and Barbuda. If these concerns are not resolved, these countries risk facing stricter travel measures or even complete bans.
The Trump administration’s latest executive order calls for an assessment of nations where “vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.” Officials from the State Department, Homeland Security, and intelligence agencies are currently reviewing the proposal to determine whether the listed countries meet the criteria.
Critics argue that the proposed restrictions disproportionately affect Muslim-majority and non-Western countries. Some analysts also question the inclusion of certain nations, such as Bhutan, a small Buddhist-majority country, and Zimbabwe, which has had no significant history of security concerns with the US.
It remains unclear whether individuals with existing US visas, green card holders, or those with dual citizenship will be exempt from the new measures. The Trump administration has previously revoked green cards, as seen in the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born former Columbia University student accused of leading anti-Israel protests, sparking legal battles over the move.
This latest travel ban could also face legal challenges, as did previous versions. During Trump’s first term, courts initially blocked earlier bans before the US Supreme Court upheld a revised version in 2018. The Biden administration later revoked the ban in 2021, describing it as discriminatory and inconsistent with America’s values of inclusivity.
This development is particularly tragic for Zimbabweans who have been fleeing their country’s economic and political instability in search of better opportunities. Many have been forced to migrate to other countries, including South Africa, where they face numerous challenges, including racial discrimination.
The brain drain has been a significant issue for Zimbabwe, with many professionals leaving the country in search of greener pastures. A report by the Institute of Policy Monitoring and Research (IPMR) found that 64.4% of Zimbabweans in the diaspora left the country in search of better economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has been embroiled in controversy surrounding the forced leave of several Voice of America (VOA) employees. The VOA, a US-funded radio station, has been a vital source of news and information for many Zimbabweans, particularly during election periods when the state-controlled media often favors the ruling party.
The VOA’s coverage of Zimbabwean politics has been widely praised for its fairness and balance, making it a trusted source of information for many citizens. However, the recent forced leave of several VOA employees has raised concerns about the station’s ability to maintain its editorial independence and continue providing unbiased coverage of Zimbabwean affairs.
The move has been seen by many as an attempt to silence critical voices and undermine the VOA’s credibility. The development has sparked outrage among Zimbabweans, who see the VOA as a vital lifeline for independent news and information.
As the travel ban and the VOA controversy continue to unfold, many Zimbabweans are left wondering about the implications of these developments on their lives and their access to information. The situation remains fluid, with many uncertainties still surrounding the travel ban and the fate of the VOA employees.
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