Botswana softens stance on Zimbabwean immigrants

By Tichaona Sibanda
01 June 2006

There are indications that the government in Botswana has softened its hard line stance against Zimbabwean immigrants, following complaints from civic and human rights groups.

In the last six months authorities in Gaborone have withdrawn work and resident permits from over 10 000 Zimbabweans and carried out numerous raids around the country to flush out illegal immigrants.

Our correspondent Don Mafingenyi said in the last two months the government has faced growing pressure to relax its tough stance on illegal immigration. Civic and human rights groups raised their concerns on sending the immigrants back to Zimbabwe, under the prevailing dire economic and political situation.

‘Following numerous representations from civic and human rights groups over the immigration issue, the government seems to have watered down its stance on Zimbabwean immigrants,’ Mafingenyi said.

According to Mafingenyi, the African Union’s human rights watch group stepped in and voiced its concerns, saying the policy on immigrants had caused a lot of heartache and did not promote human dignity.

Refugee advocates in Botswana say this is ‘a most significant and welcome step in the right direction’ by the government to soften its stance on immigration.