10 Jul 2018

No refugees or children born by refugees with Botswana citizens are denied visits in or outside the refugee camp in Dukwi, the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has said. 

Responding to a question in Parliament from Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga, on behalf of defence, justice and security minister, Mr Molefhi said refugees who had children with Botswana citizens were allowed to leave the camp and travel around the country. 

However, he said this was “as long as one has sought prior permission from the settlement commandant and made declaration in the application form to comply with policy and legal requirements meant to account for each person’s whereabouts.” 

Such permission, he said was granted in consultation with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) officials resident in the camp.  

After due process, Minister Molefhi said refugees who chose to have their children visit them on short or long term basis in the camp would be allowed to do so in accordance with the camp management rules put in place by the settlement commandant and the UNHCR resident officials. 

Children born to Botswana citizens with refugees and having been granted a long term stay in the camp, which is determined on a case by case basis, he said would benefit from free education and health services provided to all refugees in the camp.

 If a parent refugee happens to be a surviving partner or spouse of a citizen, Mr Molefhi said such children would benefit from education and health services as if they were children born to other citizens to the age of 21 years.   

Mr Majaga wanted to know if the minister was aware that a number of refugees in Dukwi camp had children with Batswana and some were denied visits and what measures were in place to allow the refugees to visit their children. BOPA