Mnangagwa’s tariff cuts ignored as US adds Zimbabwe to US$15,000 visa bond pilot

HARARE – Zimbabwean nationals applying for United States B1/B2 visas for business or tourism will from 21 January be required to pay a visa bond of up to US$15,000, after the country was added to a US pilot visa bond programme.

Under the programme, applicants from designated countries must post a refundable bond as part of the visa process.

According to the US, the payment of the bond does not guarantee visa approval and it will be refunded if the visa application is denied, if the applicant leaves the US within the authorised period, or if the individual does not travel before the visa expires.

Zimbabwe’s inclusion comes despite recent efforts by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to improve relations with Washington.

In April last year, Mnangagwa announced the suspension of tariffs on goods imported from the United States, saying the move was intended to build a “positive relationship” with the administration of President Donald Trump.

Mnangagwa said at the time that lifting tariffs on US goods was meant to encourage American imports into Zimbabwe while supporting the growth of Zimbabwean exports to the US market.

“This measure is intended to facilitate the expansion of American imports within the Zimbabwean market, while simultaneously promoting the growth of Zimbabwean exports destined for the United States,” Mnangagwa said.

The announcement followed Washington’s decision to impose 18% tariffs on Zimbabwean exports to the US.

Relations between the two countries have remained strained for more than two decades, largely due to Zimbabwe’s fast-track land reform programme launched in 2000 and longstanding concerns raised by the US over governance and human rights.

According to US government data, trade between Zimbabwe and the United States totalled US$111.6 million in 2024. US exports to Zimbabwe were valued at US$43.8 million, a 10.6% increase from the previous year, while imports from Zimbabwe fell 41% to US$67.8 million.

The US first imposed broad sanctions on Zimbabwe during the rule of former president Robert Mugabe, citing land seizures and repression of political opposition.

In 2024, the Biden administration ended the broad sanctions regime, replacing it with targeted sanctions on 11 individuals, including Mnangagwa.

Zimbabwe is among a number of countries placed under the visa bond pilot. According to the US Department of State, the countries affected include:

Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The US authorities say the visa bond pilot is intended to encourage compliance with visa conditions and address concerns over overstays, while affected countries say the measure adds a significant financial barrier for ordinary travellers.