Gaborone (Botswana- Botswana has denied South African firebrand Julius Malema a visa to visit the country, according to a government document seen by AFP, because of apparent security concerns.
An Immigration Department letter dated September 12 stated that “the above named (Malema) has been turned down… he/she may re-apply after a period of three months immediately after the date of rejection”.
Government owned Radio Botswana said the visa was the subject of “security vetting”.
Malema has previously called for the overthrow of the government of Botswana’s President Ian Khama, who the fiery leftist claimed was a Western stooge.
Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighter’s Party reacted furiously to the news, condemning Botswana’s “autocratic military government”.
“There are absolutely no grounds for a so-called democratic country to refuse a person a visa merely on the basis that he holds a different political view to that of the government.”
Malema was scheduled to arrive in Gaborone for the launch of ally Arafat Khan’s election campaign.
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