14 Jul 2014

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has advised short term travellers who want to do business in Botswana to ensure they meet all requirements for stay and operation in the country.

Director of immigration and citizenship, Mr Mabuse Pule, said at a breakfast meeting hosted for the business community in Gaborone (July 10), that his department had realised that some short-term travellers were taking immigration requirements for granted and by-passing the system.

Mr Pule said business travellers should follow the requirements at entry points by filling out forms, and honestly explaining the purposes of their visit. In the event they needed to extend their stay, they would have to get permission from the department, he said.

Mr Pule noted it was a requirement for the country to account for its visitors, hence immigration requirements for the purpose of visiting should be followed.

“Some visitors become so comfortable and end up engaging in business deals or even dirty deals. People should draw a distinction between work and visiting,” he said.

He, however, noted those businessed with subsidiaries all over the region such as commercial banks, should communicate with the office when the outsourced some of their staff members elsewhere even if the nature of job was known to the office.

Mr Pule said the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs offered services that enabled investors and imported skills to acquire the necessary permits, visas and labour administration services. This was to ensure conducive, industrial relations environment, and improved supply of human resources and for investment.

He also said there was growing concern that investment campaigns were hampered by overly restrictive permits procedures and lack of quality and capable workforce, particularly at the artisan level, that was necessary for mega projects.

He said the challenge for Government has been to protect its infant economy with a desire to have its citizens in control of its major sectors as opposed to opening it up to the increasingly complex global economy.

Principal Industrial Relations Officer, Mr Otsogile Mokibelo said the Immigration Act regulated employment and engagement in occupations for reward or profit by non-citizens while in Botswana. However, those taking up such employment needed to apply for work and residence permits.

He said work permits were granted for a period not exceeding five years for employees and ten years for investors.

Mr Mokibelo further informed participants that an emergency work permits was a short term permit meant for emergencies such as attending to a shut down or break down that could hinder a business productivity. The permit costs P1000.

Ernst and Young Country managing Partner, Mr Bakani Ndwapi said the one-day workshop was meant to raise awareness on various issues and challenges that they encountered frequently with regards to immigration in their respective organisations. ENDS