06 Nov 2016

The Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu, has assured residents of Oodi in Kgatleng District that he has begun a serious fight against illegal immigrants.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting on Thursday (November 3), Minister Batshu said the laws were clear on procedures of entering the country through gazetted areas and being allowed to live in the country.

He said illegal immigrants were not allowed in Botswana and all those who broke the law would be brought to book.

He blamed the influx of illegal immigrants on some Batswana, whom he said encouraged illegal aliens by giving them accommodation and employing them as labourers in their homes and farms without following the right procedures.

Minister Batshu said any non-citizen should enter the country at designated points, where they had to produce passports.

He further said any foreigner who wanted to work in Botswana should have a work permit.

He advised Batswana not to harbor any illegal immigrants or else they would face the wrath of the law as stated in the Immigration Act.

The minister further said any person who contravened subsection 1 the Immigration Act committed an offense and was liable to a fine not exceeding P4 000 or to an imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years, or both.

He said illegal immigrants continued to commit crimes in the communities while others accrue goods which government uses a lot of money to deport.

Mr Batshu warned all illegal immigrants to vacate the country immediately before they are caught and those who have accommodated them to report the matter to the police.

In his welcome remarks earlier, Kgosi Clatter Rantabe said Oodi has seen growth in population, mostly because it is close to  Gaborone, which nearness has attracted illegal immigrants to the village.

He said nevertheless there is a cluster, which they use to educate residents about the dangers of staying with illegal immigrants and since its advent the village has seen some changes.

Kgosi Rantabe complained that the village has experienced an increase of crime carried out by the locals and illegal immigrants alike.

For his part, the village development committee secretary, Mr Tshepo Digangwa said they do have illegal immigrants in the village commit such crimes as stealing copper cables, house break-ins, burglary and cell phone snatching.

He expressed concern over this trend of theft and asked that a police station be built in the area to address this problem.

Mr Digangwa announced the presence of a community society called Bomme Sedi la Motse, which helps with advices and assists with community development. ENDS