Botswana withdraws resident and work permits from Zimbabweans

By Tichaona Sibanda
22 February 2006

The Botswana government has allegedly revoked resident and work permits
of 10 000 Zimbabweans and has given them 30 working days to leave
the country.

Most of those affected have been in Botswana for more than ten
years and many had bought properties. Don Mafingenyi, our
correspondent in Gaborone said nine out of ten Zimbabweans with legal
status have been served with notices to leave the country within 30 days
of receiving the notice.

‘People are being given 30 days to wind up their businesses and leave
Botswana. If you want to stay or delay you have to pay a lot of money
by lodging an appeal,’ he said.

Reasons for revoking the permits vary, but Mafingenyi said authorities
in Botswana cite the fact that they now have equally skilled
manpower to take over all the jobs held by expatriates.

Zimbabweans in Botswana have held jobs in varying professional sectors,
including health where they provide doctors and nurses. Many more have
jobs in mechanical, electrical, construction and civil engineering fields.

‘The first group of professionals to be affected by this new ruling
were teachers, lecturers and light and heavy duty drivers,’ said Mafingenyi.

Most Zimbabweans suspect that Botswana’s political elite is behind the new policy to get rid of foreigners. The country has over the years been flooded by immigrants from neighbouring countries looking for better jobs.

Lately, the influx of people from Zimbabwe has caused some concern in Botswana whose government responded by erecting an electric fence along the border with Zimbabwe.