12 Jun 2017

The draft national immigration policy intends to address prevailing loopholes in the system.

The chief immigration administrator in the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Mr Lekgotla Phiri recently told this to the South East District full council session.

He said the country’s ports of entry would under the draft policy have standardised procedures of operations.

“They are to ensure that our boarders facilitate trade, investment and tourism,” said Mr Phiri.

He noted security personnel at border posts must work together for the good of the country and the region.

Mr Phiri said failure to cooperate between securities at the boarder gates could lead to loopholes in the system.

Furthermore, he said the policy would also look into strengthening travel documents adding that the country’s visa and permits must be of integrity.

As a country, he said Botswana needed to automate her documents so that it would be difficult for people to forge them.

He said the country’s travel documents must adhere to required international standards.

Furthermore, he said the country needed to strengthen systems at ports of entry to reduce queues and corruption.

“We need to have systems in place to verify and authenticate passport from other countries,” he added.

Further he said the draft policy would help the country deal with issues of migrants labourers.

Mr Phiri said the database which used to help the country to determine which skills were required in the county was outdated hence the need for a new one.

He said this would help to safeguard the interest of the country as only necessary skills would be allowed into the country.

Mr Phiri told the council that each country had the right to determine who entered its territory and safeguard the interests of its citizens.

Nonetheless, he said each country had a duty to protect the rights of migrants in its territory.

Commenting, councillors welcomed the draft bill and Councillor Roseline Panzirah said the country needed to think outside the box when dealing with migrants. ENDS