23 Jul 2019

There are no refugees or stateless persons who benefit from public relief and assistance programmes, says Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefi.

Answering on behalf of the Minister of Defense, Justice and Security, Mr Molefhi told Parliament on July 22 that this was because such persons did not meet the qualifying criteria.

He said the public relief and assistance programmes were reserved for Botswana citizens.

He further said it should be noted that Botswana entered a reservation to Article 7 on exemption from reciprocity, the effect of, which allowed Botswana not to oblige with provision of public relief and assistance programmes to refugees and stateless persons.

Specially elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister as to whether Botswana complied with the 1954 Convention, Article 23 together with the 1951 Convention, Article 23, which speak to the assistance of public relief and to stateless persons and refugees in the same manner as it was accorded to nationals. 

He had also asked the minister to state the number of stateless persons and refugees who benefit from public relief and assistance programmes such as youth grants, Economic Stimulus Package Programme and Ipelegeng and if none, to explain why they did not participate. ENDS