28 Mar 2019

About 33 refugees have been allowed to participate in different sectors of Botswana’s mainstream economy as per Refugee Convention 51 of 1951, says the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi.

Mr Kgathi noted that whereas Botswana had entered a reservation to Article 17 of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the status of refugees on wage-earning employment, refugees in Botswana had been allowed to participate in the local job market.

The minister pointed out that 14 refugees were engaged at various workplaces in Gaborone, Gabane, Molepolole, Ramotswa, Jwaneng, Tsabong and Maun, while the other 19 refugees run their own businesses in the Dukwi Refugee Camp in the form of general dealers, hair dressing salons and tailor workshops.

Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister to state the number of refugees from Dukwi who had been integrated to participate and contribute to the mainstream economy of Botswana as per the Refugee Convention Number 51 of 1951; Article 17, which states that refugees shall be afforded the right to gainful employment. Ends