14 Feb 2013

Children born by a Motswana and a foreigner remain half Motswana and half foreigner until they denounce one nationality at the age of 21, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu has said.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Old Naledi in Gaborone, Mr Batshu said when the other nationality is denounced at 21 years, it would be probable for government to extend other services fully, adding that those who did not denounce, were regarded as having taken citizenship of the other country.

He noted that children should be registered 60 days after birth and that every child should register for Omang within 30 days of attaining the age of 16, failure to which they would be liable for a fine.

“Registration of birth assist government departments in their planning processes such as land distribution, education, health and other issues,” he said.

Mr Batshu said it was vital to register all deaths and attain death certificate. This, he said, allowed government departments to know how many people died as it would assist in  budgeting for schemes like old age pension and facilitate services at government schools.

The minister told residents that Batswana had a tendency of assisting foreigners in registering and acquiring certain certificates. He said it had come to their notice that foreigners registered in large numbers for services reserved for Batswana.

On other issues, Mr Batshu told the gathering that his ministry was working around the clock to change the women’s affairs department to gender affairs department.

In response, residents told the minister that some companies reaped off Batswana labourers. Mr Keneemang Seikiso said the companies either closed or relocated without paying them. He urged the minister to impose stringent measures on such companies.

Ms Gaone Molosiwa told the minister that labour department personnel did not work on tip offs as they failed to attend to reports concerning foreigners who did not have work permits. She said some foreigners were given work permits as managers while they worked as labourers. ENDS