Maseru, March 16 — Advocates for the Supremacy of the Constitution, SECTION 2, have voiced concerns regarding the recently signed visa-free agreement between Lesotho and South Africa (SA), stating that Basotho will not reap its benefits.
The visa-free agreement stipulates that Basotho are allowed to stay in SA for a period of 90 days without a visa, an extension from the previous 30-day limit. However, SECTION 2 argues that this development holds little value due to persistent delays in passport issuance by the Lesotho government.
Many Basotho working in SA remain there for the entire year without returning home, encountering difficulties during holiday seasons, such as Christmas, when they do return, and suggesting an extension of the visa-free period to accommodate such situations without fear of passport fines.
SECTION 2 lays stress on the need to reconsider the relevance of passports in the pursuit of freedom and unity, citing neighboring countries Botswana and Namibia, which allow their citizens to travel between them using national identity documents.
