LUSAKA, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has taken immediate steps to engage the United States, following the latter's decision to impose a deposit requirement of up to 15,000 U.S. dollars on tourist and business visas for Zambian nationals.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mulambo Haimbe said in a statement on Friday that the government is engaging the United States at the highest level through formal diplomatic channels to seek clarity on the program and explore possible solutions.
Haimbe noted that the foreign ministry has taken note of the U.S. decision to introduce visa bond requirements for certain categories of visa applicants, a measure that "may have significant implications" for Zambians intending to travel to the United States for business or tourism.
"The Zambian government views this development with serious concern, given its potential economic implications on trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges," Haimbe said.
He added that the decision would place an unnecessary financial strain on Zambian travelers and contradicts the spirit of recent diplomatic discussions between the two countries.
According to the statement, the new visa bond, announced on Tuesday, ranges from 5,000 to 15,000 dollars and applies to Zambian and Malawian nationals applying for tourist or business visas.
The U.S. Department of State said in a notice that the 12-month pilot program aims to reduce visa overstays and will be implemented in cases "where screening and vetting information is considered deficient." ■
