US Suspends Routine Visas for Zimbabweans Amid Immigration Crackdown

• The United States has suspended all routine visa services for Zimbabwean citizens, effective Friday, 15 August 2025
• The US cited concerns with the Government of Zimbabwe and broader immigration policy enforcement
• The US State Department stated that diplomatic and official visas will not be affected by the suspension

The United States has suspended all routine visa services for Zimbabwean citizens, effective Friday, 15 August 2025, citing concerns with the Government of Zimbabwe and broader immigration policy enforcement.

What did the US say?

According to a statement from the US State Department, the suspension is temporary and intended to address issues linked to visa overstays and misuse. Diplomatic and official visas will not be affected.

The decision is part of a broader crackdown on immigration, which has seen the US impose travel bans on citizens from 12 countries, seven of them in Africa, and tighten restrictions on an additional seven.

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In June, the US warned 36 countries, the majority in Africa, to improve traveller vetting systems or face entry bans. Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia were specifically cautioned to strengthen travel documentation and resolve the status of nationals living illegally in the US.

Countries included in the ban

On 4 June 2025, US President, Donald Trump banned several countries. The 12 countries directly affected by the new travel ban include Chad, Congo, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, and Somalia.

Entry to the US is also restricted to people of seven other countries, including Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. The ban took effect on 9 June 2025.

Netizens weigh in

Social media users shared their opinions regarding the suspension.

@iamhumanZA said:

"Big up to US. Leeches must fix their home."

@Lecheadi said:

"I thought they rekindled."

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@KennyTM78 said:

"They are joining Nigeria, next time it will be UK then UAE, France, Germany. We told them but they say we're Xenophobic."

@Mo_Ongasaphuzi said:

"Zimbabwe is slowly but surely becoming like Nigeria."

@LaPolymath said:

"This visa suspension is a wake-up call. Ignoring border control and overstays only damages the country’s reputation, and its people pay the price. I wish South African leaders showed the same strictness in protecting our borders."

@heisalive4all said:

"Yah, they must just stay in Zimbabwe."

@Cmbulele_Mag said:

"They must also suspend South African visa applications because many foreigners bribe South African officials for fake documents and then go to those countries pretending to be South African."

Zimbabwe to begin culling elephants

In another article, Briefly News reported that a decision by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) to cull elephants in the country is causing quite a stir online. ZimParks announced that it would cull dozens of elephants due to a rapid increase in the animal’s population in the country. Zimbabwe has the second-biggest elephant population in the world after Botswana.

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In an official statement on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, ZimParks announced that it would start at a private game reserve in the southeast, where 50 elephants would be initially targeted.

Source: Briefly News