The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group on Monday condemned travel bans imposed by the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States against countries in southern Africa, including South Africa and Namibia.

Japan became the latest country to reintroduce strict border controls on Monday, 29 November 2021, prohibiting all foreigners from entering the country beginning on 30 November.

O&L Executive Chairman Sven Thieme in a media statement noted that the travel bans were imposed in response to the discovery of new coronavirus variant, Omicron, in South Africa earlier this month and reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday, 24 November 2021.

“It is completely disrespectful, deceptive and discriminatory of our intellectual capacity, while also undermining the skill and excellence of a world-class scientific community. Instead of being recognised and praised, South Africa (and its neighbours, including Namibia) is punished for being transparent,” he said.

Thieme stated that this action will result in the complete crippling of the economies of the affected countries indefinitely.

“We’re talking about a combined population of more than 300 million (southern African) lives at stake, and the rest of the world slams the door on us without any consultation, despite all of our commitments over time. This is heinous! And the countries that are to blame should be held accountable for their actions. Consider the ramifications of border closures and travel bans every time a new variant is identified/detected. We must remain open and focused by trusting science and gathering facts before acting rashly,” Thieme said.

He added that the world as a whole is in this pandemic together, which requires everyone to support each other and not work or discriminate against each other, and that the best weapon of defence against this dreadful virus right now is to be fully vaccinated and follow the basic rules of wearing a mask; regularly washing and sanitising hands; avoiding large gatherings; and trusting the scientific approach.

“As a country, we owe it to ourselves, our children, and future generations to stand in solidarity (with the government and all other role-players) to fight this virus with all our might and power so that we emerge from the ashes of COVID-19 stronger than ever before,” the businessman concluded.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency