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Newly Elected Botswana President, Duma Boko, has announced plans to issue temporary work and residence permits to undocumented Zimbabweans, aiming to legalise their status and fill labour gaps.
According to BBC reports monitored by Zambia Monitor, President Boko stated, “They do jobs that would otherwise not get done.”
Botswana, hosting the world’s second-largest community of Zimbabweans who have fled economic hardship, had seen a daily stream of deportations amid public resentment toward the influx.
Despite anticipated backlash, Boko, 54, who recently ended the ruling party’s 58-year hold on power, sees this initiative as vital to his economic revival plan.
He acknowledged the challenge posed by Zimbabweans entering Botswana through the long, porous border, often without documentation.
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“Their access to amenities is limited, if available at all, and they end up living outside the law, which breeds resentment,” he said.
“A formal arrangement is needed to recognise the Zimbabweans who are already here.”
While exact numbers are unclear, Zimbabweans account for 98 percent of Botswana’s “irregular migrants,” according to recent government data. Between 2021 and 2023, officials recorded 13,189 undocumented Zimbabweans out of 13,489 migrants.
Daily deportations from police stations target Zimbabweans lacking legal papers or involved in criminal activities.
President Boko noted that Zimbabwean migrants often take low-wage jobs, including domestic and farm labor.
“A lot of these workers perform tasks that citizens find unattractive, so there’s no conflict there,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema has praised Botswana’s achievements, expressing pride on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African continent.
His remarks came during the inauguration of Botswana’s newly elected President, Duma Boko.
In a statement from his official Facebook page on Friday, Hichilema noted, “What is good for Botswana is also good for Zambia.”
He further extended gratitude to President Boko and the people of Botswana for the warm reception at the event.
Hichilema congratulated President Boko and the people of Botswana for the peaceful and historic electoral transition.
He also commended outgoing President Mokgweetsi Masisi, highlighting his grace and humility throughout the electoral process.
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