22 Jun 2017

Botswana is committed to the voluntary return of refugees in safety and dignity, deputy secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security, Ms Dimpho Mogami has said.

Speaking at the World Refugee Day in Dukwi on Tuesday, Ms Mogami said the country would continue to work closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other concerned governments to facilitate refugees who want to return to their country of origin safely and with dignity.

She applauded the refugees who chose to go back home and are now meaningful to the development of their countries.

Ms Mogami said since the last commemoration of the World Refugee Day, 23 refugees have voluntarily repatriated to their countries of origin.

She said currently, Botswana has a total of 2 113 recognised refugees from different countries throughout Africa.

Ms Mogami said Botswana in partnership with UNHCR and Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS) had played roles in providing hospitality to refugees through the provision of various life-saving initiatives such as shelter, food, safety and security, education and other basic human needs.

She called on the international community to provide more resettlement opportunities and also urged other non-governmental partners and the private sector to contribute to the welfare of the refugees.

Ms Mogami said as an effort to continually improve services to refugees, Botswana launched a refugee management system, which in part introduced the issuance of new biometric identity cards.

“The advantage of the card is that it contains data relating to an individual refugee and will ensure that the intended beneficiaries are the ones that access services including food rations and healthcare,” she said.

On the HIV/AIDS treatment care and support, she said, since the inception of the Prevention of Mother to Child Treatment (PMTCT) for refugees ‘there is zero transmission of HIV from mothers to children’.

Ms Mogami appreciated the support of the United States President Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

She also commended the BRCS for the placement of a medical doctor in Dukwi, purchasing of drugs and provision of an ambulance.

Ms Mogami said: “Whilst remaining mindful of Botswana’s duty to protect refugees, it is imperative for refugees to understand their duty to abide by and respect the laws of the host country.”

Despite the material and social support government commits to refugees in this country some deliberately flout laws and policies and engage in active politics, she added.

The chairperson of the refugee community, Mr Bhekimpilo Weza appreciated government and its partners for having accepted and hosted the refugees.

He thanked Botswana and UNHCR for embarking on finding durable solution for refugees as the exercise lifted their hopes and assured them dignity, but lamented that it took long with only a few benefiting from it.

Mr Weza called for the speeding up of the process to assist those willing to go back home and those that were resettled and integrated.

He cited that some of those seeking refugee statuses had overstayed at the Centre for Illegal Immigrants.

He appealed to the international community to assist with scholarships so that those refugees who excel in Form Five could further their studies.

Mr Weza also called for assistance through small income-generating projects to supplement farming currently run by Skill Share International.

He commended BRCS for taking care of the vulnerable and the sick and urged fellow refugees to adhere to doctor’s schedules and appointments as their lives come first.

Kgosi Bohedile Tlwaelang raised a concern about some refugees who do not participate in the World Refugee Day activities.

He thanked those who participated during the BOT50 celebrations and called on the refugees to unite with the residents of Dukwi in bringing peace and stability in the country as a whole.

The theme for the commemoration was #With Refugees and the local theme was We Stand Together With Refugees. BOPA