Zimbabwean illegal immigrants forced into sex acts by soldiers in Botswana

By Violet Gonda
7 February 2006

We continue to receive reports that illegal Zimbabwean immigrants are being ill-treated in Botswana. The latest is that a group of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe were forced to have sex, and without condoms, by some soldiers from Botswana. This happened in an area called Ramotswa just outside Gaborone.

Although the incident happened on the 25 th of November, news is only filtering in now after it was reported in newspapers in Botswana last month. According to the Voice newspaper, five soldiers and two constables appeared in court recently after they allegedly forced several Zimbabwean men and women to have sex with each other while they watched.

They allegedly raided areas where the immigrants were staying and rounded them up. The Zimbabweans were either forced to undress, masturbate or have sex, at gunpoint. It’s reported the law enforcement agents who were arraigned at a court in Gaborone are currently out on bail.

The soldiers took matters into their own hands and severely punished the immigrants. He said some of the victims were deported.

Zimbabweans who are fleeing economic and political hardship to neighboring countries are increasingly finding that the grass is not always greener when they arrive in these countries. Many have complained that Zimbabwean authorities in Botswana are largely silent and not helping victims.

A Zimbabwean contact in Botswana told SW Radio Africa that Zimbabweans who are caught without permits are usually flogged.