Former Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo says Zambia cannot fault the United States for imposing travel restrictions on its citizens, arguing that the move is a direct consequence of the country’s weak civil registration and documentation systems.
Last week, the United States government announced that, effective January 1, 2026, Zambian citizens will no longer be eligible to enter the US on B1/B2 visitor visas.
The decision followed the release of an Overstay Report, which showed that Zambia recorded a B1/B2 visa overstay rate of 10.73 percent, while the overstay rate for F, M and J visas stood at 21.02 percent.
Commenting on the development, Kampyongo said the high overstay figures reflect deep-seated challenges within Zambia’s civil registration framework, which he said has been exploited by foreign nationals.
“We cannot blame the United States for taking measures to protect its immigration system,” Kampyongo said. “Our own weaknesses have contributed to this situation.”
He explained that inadequate vetting and registration processes have made it possible for some foreign nationals to fraudulently obtain Zambian identification documents, which they then use to travel abroad.
According to Kampyongo, some of these individuals have gone on to overstay their visas or commit crimes in foreign countries, actions that ultimately tarnish Zambia’s international image.
“When such incidents occur, they are attributed to Zambia because the individuals are travelling on Zambian documents,” he said. “This reflects poorly on the country and raises serious concerns for destination countries.”
Kampyongo stressed the need for government to urgently strengthen civil registration systems, including the issuance of national registration cards and passports, to ensure that only legitimate Zambian citizens are documented.
He said improving data integrity, inter-agency coordination and border controls would not only restore international confidence but also prevent further restrictions on Zambian travellers.
The former minister warned that failure to address these weaknesses could result in additional travel limitations and strained diplomatic relations with other countries.
The US travel restrictions are expected to affect businesspeople, tourists and families who rely on short-term travel to the United States, prompting renewed calls for reforms in Zambia’s immigration and civil registration sectors.