13 Mar 2013

Four thousand Batswana, who fall in the category of the diaspora, have registered with embassies abroad, Parliament has been told.

Responding to a question on Tuesday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani said this was done in accordance with the African Union definition of African Diaspora.

Mr Skelemani said his ministry did not have reliable figures from Kenya, Australia and Zimbabwe. “Records indicate that the total number of those employed is 2 790”, he said.

With regard to how much money they had repatriated to Botswana, Minister Skelemani said records were not readily available because the number of those working was insignificant.

Palapye MP, Mr Moiseraela Goya had asked the minister as to how many Batswana were in the diaspora and employed.

He had also asked the minister how much in Pula terms they had repatriated to Botswana during the year 2012 and how much in percentage terms this contributed to the Gross Domestic Product. ENDS