The United States government has announced a sweeping visa suspension for most travelers from Zimbabwe, marking the latest move in a string of Africa-focused travel restrictions under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The U.S. State Department confirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Harare will suspend all routine visa services starting Friday. The suspension will remain in effect “while we address concerns with the Government of Zimbabwe,” according to an official statement. The embassy emphasized that this is a temporary measure aimed at curbing visa overstays and immigration fraud, and that most diplomatic and official visas will remain exempt.
This development comes just days after the launch of a controversial visa bond pilot program targeting Malawi and Zambia. Under the new policy, citizens of those countries applying for U.S. tourist or business visas must pay a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 USD. The bond will be forfeited if the traveler overstays beyond the visa’s expiration date.
In addition, the policy restricts travelers to entering and exiting through only three U.S. international airports:
Logan International Airport (Boston)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
Dulles International Airport (Washington D.C.)
The visa bond program is set to officially take effect on August 20.
The measures are part of a wider Trump immigration enforcement agenda, which in June introduced travel bans on citizens from 12 countries, seven of which are in Africa. The U.S. also applied stricter visa rules to citizens from seven other nations, three of them African.
Furthermore, 36 countries—mostly in Africa—have been warned to improve their travel documentation systems and cooperate in repatriating nationals who are unlawfully present in the U.S., or risk facing entry bans. Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia are all on that list.
A State Department spokesperson reaffirmed the administration’s stance:
“The Trump administration is committed to protecting our nation and citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety in our visa process.”
These new restrictions are expected to significantly impact African travelers, tourism, business exchanges, and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and several sub-Saharan African nations.
