Lobamba – Pan-African advocate and former Ghanaian Member of Parliament, Ras Mubarak, has called on Eswatini to play a leading role in promoting visa-free travel across Africa, describing it as the key to unlocking trade, tourism, and continental unity.
Mubarak, who is on a road campaign across the continent, paid a courtesy visit to Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini and Speaker of the House of Assembly Jabulani Mabuza during his stop in Mbabane this week. Eswatini is the 14th country he has visited in his drive to promote the free movement of Africans within Africa.
Speaking during the engagement at the Happy Valley Hotel, Mubarak said his mission is to revive the Pan-African dream of a borderless continent where Africans can move, trade, and work freely.
“We’ve had the immense honour of meeting Her Excellency, Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini, and the Rt. Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Jabulani Mabuza,” Mubarak said. “These engagements were truly fruitful. We had deep discussions on harnessing tourism to bridge African nations and foster unbreakable unity. Both leaders agreed it is long overdue — Africa’s time is now.”
He explained that visa restrictions continue to slow down economic and cultural exchange among African countries. Mubarak urged governments to prioritise trade and local production within the continent rather than depending on imports from outside Africa.
“We have no business importing beef from Europe or South America when we can get it from Southern Africa,” he said. “If we open our borders and keep our resources within Africa, we can create sustainable jobs for our young people.”
Addressing concerns about security under a visa-free regime, Mubarak said countries such as Rwanda and Kenya had successfully implemented the policy without losing control of their borders.
“If we can share intelligence with Europe and America, it should be even easier for us to do the same with our fellow African countries,” he said.
Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini expressed support for the Pan-African movement, saying the idea of a visa-free Africa aligns with Eswatini’s aspirations for regional cooperation.
“Your initiative is commendable,” Dlamini said. “Africa has long spoken about integration, but the time for talk is over. We must begin to act. Eswatini is open to discussions on how it can contribute to this greater vision for the continent.”
Speaker Jabulani Mabuza said Parliament welcomed the opportunity to engage with Mubarak and explore ways to strengthen ties with other African legislatures.
“We appreciate your visit and the ideas you have brought,” Mabuza said. “Collaboration between our parliaments can strengthen understanding between our countries. We can explore memoranda of understanding and exchange programmes so that our members learn from each other.”
Mubarak said the Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had fully endorsed his campaign and facilitated meetings with leaders across Africa. He noted that the Eswatini leg of the journey was among the most significant, given the Kingdom’s unique role in upholding African traditions and values.
He revealed that he had an audience with His Majesty King Mswati III, while Prime Minister Russell Dlamini was out of the country at the time of his visit.
Reflecting on the origins of the Pan-African dream, Mubarak said the vision of one Africa dates back to 1961, when liberation leaders met in Casablanca to discuss unity and integration — long before the formation of the European Union.
“The dream of one Africa with one passport and one currency began more than six decades ago,” he said. “At that time, the European Union had not even been conceived. Today, they have achieved what our forefathers imagined. It’s time for Africa to make that vision a reality.”
He added that several African governments, including Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Congo, have already shown commitment to implementing visa-free policies within the next few years.
“If Eswatini joins this movement, it will strengthen its position as a guardian of African heritage and solidarity,” he said.
Mubarak concluded by praising the warmth and hospitality he received during his stay in the Kingdom.
“The reception here has been phenomenal,” he said. “It reaffirms that Africans are one people divided only by lines drawn on a map. Together, we can erase those lines.”
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