Chinese Community Leader in Zambia allays visa delays claims

By BARNABAS ZULU

CHINESE Community Leader in Zambia Rogier Lee has dismissed claims that large numbers of Zambians are experiencing prolonged delays in obtaining Chinese visas, saying available information shows visa issuances have actually increased.

Responding to concerns raised in a recent article alleging that applicants are waiting between two and four months for visas, Mr Lee, who is also Prince of Mukuni Royal Establishment said such claims are not supported by evidence.

“After reading that article, one might think that many people are unable to obtain Chinese visas and that the number of visas issued must have dropped significantly. However, according to the information I have, the opposite is true. This year's visa issuance has increased by 20 percent compared to the same period last year,” Mr Lee said.

He acknowledged that occasional network disruptions do occur because the visa processing system is part of a global platform handling applications from many countries. However, he said such problems are normally resolved within one or two days and do not result in delays lasting several months.

Mr Lee explained that only a small number of applications require extended processing due to issues such as forged invitation letters, previous visa refusals, questionable identity information or fraudulent practices by some visa agents.

He further stated that visa authorities have not received complaints indicating widespread delays and that there are no records showing large-scale backlogs in visa processing.

"The burden of proof lies with the person making the claim. Therefore, the assertion that a large number of applicants have experienced delays of several months is unfounded," he said.

Mr Lee encouraged applicants to use official visa application channels and avoid unverified intermediaries. He added that complaint mechanisms remain available through the Chinese Embassy in Lusaka for anyone experiencing genuine difficulties during the application process.

He said the Chinese Embassy remains committed to facilitating legitimate travel between Zambia and China while ensuring that visa procedures are conducted according to established regulations.