Haimbe dismisses claims of German policy shift towards Zambia, offers reason for denial of visas to country’s officials

The government says it has not received any communication indicating a change in Germany’s policy toward Zambia or Zambian officials on official business.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Mulambo Haimbe, reaffirmed that relations with Germany remained warm, constructive and mutually respectful.

Delivering a ministerial statement to Parliament in Lusaka on Wednesday, Haimbe said cooperation with Germany spanned governance, renewable energy, trade, skills development and health.

He added the recent denial of visas to a delegation of 60 Zambian officials — including Bwana Mkubwa lawmaker Warren Mwambazi — was an isolated administrative occurrence.

Haimbe emphasised that the incident did not indicate any deterioration in bilateral relations or diplomatic reciprocity.

“The Government remains committed to protecting the dignity of this House, upholding Zambia’s sovereign interests, and ensuring that diplomatic passports are respected globally,” he said.

He explained that visa applications for lawmakers travelling to Geneva for the World Health Organization’s 7th Montreux Collaborative Global Forum from 1 to 4 December 2025 were submitted late and could not be processed in time.

Haimbe clarified that visa applications to Switzerland were submitted through the Swedish Embassy, which contracts VFS Global to handle applications.

“Applicants complete forms, pay the requisite fees, undergo biometric enrolment at VFS, and the applications are then forwarded to the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi for processing,” he said.

He added that standard processing was 10 to 15 working days, with a fast-track option of three working days reserved for delegations led by ministers or above.

In Mwambazi’s case, Haimbe said, the request for visa issuance within five working days could not be accommodated, as it did not meet fast-track criteria.

He further stated that an 18-member delegation’s applications were not submitted to the German Embassy because a request for a note verbale was made only five days before travel. The German Embassy required recommendation from Berlin due to the size of the delegation.

“The Embassy was willing to issue visas to five members of the delegation, which was not admissible to the team,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, Haimbe dismissed recent social media reports claiming that the United States had imposed a “60-day travel ban” on Zambia as false and misleading.

He said the government has d received no formal communication from the United States indicating any travel ban or new restrictions on Zambian citizens or officials, and that all existing procedures remain in effect.

Haimbe said the ministry continued to engage U.S. authorities to ensure smooth implementation of the Visa Bond Pilot Programme and to safeguard the interests of Zambian travellers.

“The bilateral relationship between Zambia and the United States remains strong, productive and mutually respectful,” he said.

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