Economic situation forces immigrants back to their roots

By Tichaona Sibanda
06 June 2006

About 700 families, mostly second generation Zimbabweans whose grandparents migrated from Botswana half a century ago, have asked to be repatriated.

Its believed the dire economic situation in Zimbabwe has forced the families from Nswazwi in Bulilima district of Matebeleland South to request permission from authorities in Gaborone to allow them to migrate to the birth place of their ancestors.

Themba Nkosi our correspondent in Bulawayo said officials from Botswana’s ministry of Foreign Affairs have been in Zimbabwe to screen the villagers before allowing them back into their country. The regime in the country has given its blessings to the repatriations.

‘That exercise was completed on Monday and the villagers should be moved back to Botswana anytime from now. Most are complaining about the hardships they are facing as a result of the economic situation. Before that, when Zimbabwe was a land of milk and honey they had no problems at all,’ Nkosi said.

Historians have told our correspondent that the group is part of a legion of immigrants who fled Bechuanaland (Botswana) in 1947 at the height of tribal conflicts between the Kalanga in the northern parts of that country.

The majority of immigrants returned when Botswana attained independence from the British in 1966 but some who had married decided to settle down and have families.