19 Mar 2013

A total of 1 778 persons were declared prohibited immigrants and were accordingly deported from Botswana for the period April 1980 to December 2012.

However, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu has told Parliament that they have not been able to find records showing the number of people who were declared prohibited immigrants for the period September 1966 to March 1980.

Mr Batshu said the majority of people were declared prohibited immigrants in terms of the Immigration Act for having been sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine, while others were declared prohibited immigrants in consequence of information which is adverse to the security of the state received from reliable sources.

Lobatse MP, Mr Nehemiah Modubule had asked the minister to state the number of foreigners who were declared prohibited immigrants in Botswana for the periods September 1966 to March 2008 and April 2008 to December 2012. ENDS