26 Sep 2019

The increasing rate of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Botswana is a serious threat to the country’s reputation of democracy, good governance, peace and stability. 

Addressing a series of kgotla meetings in Moroka, Ramokgwebana and Jackalas No.1 recently, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Mr Ngaka Ngaka said Botswana’s good image as a symbol of democracy worldwide was being tarnished by the rate of GBV and related offences.

He said cases of murder, passion killing, domestic violence, rape and other criminal offences blackened the country’s name. Noting that GBV affected both genders, Mr Ngaka appealed to avoid exhibiting violent behaviour in their children’s presence who could end up emulating them.

On other issues, the minister briefed the residents on the Citizenship Act saying some Batswana continued to give public officers false information when applying for citizenship, which he said contributed to delays in processing applications. 

Mr Ngaka explained that children holding dual citizenship were required by law to renounce one on attaining the age of 21.

The minister said it was clear that most people had not renounced one citizenship and appealed to them to do so with immediate effect to avoid embarrassment. 

Failure to renounce citizenship would result in the loss of  Botswana citizenship, he said. 

He said those who were resident in Botswana before independence were not required to apply for citizenship because they were considered Batswana. 

Mr Ngaka informed residents that the Women Economic Empowerment Programme,   put on hold in 2017, would soon be re-introduced. 

Residents were also briefed on the Botswana Blue Card, which would cater for Botswana citizens married to foreigners who had relocated to countries that did not allow dual citizenship.

The introduction of the card followed consultations regarding the Citizenship Amendment Bill which had been deferred by Parliament because it affected 34 other pieces of legislation, said Mr Ngaka.

Minister Ngaka said the card did not have an expiry date and was to be produced by the holder at any gazetted entry point.

He appealed to those affected by the issue of dual citizenship to apply for the card.

“If someone comes to Botswana to visit a sick relative, nobody knows when they are going to be better, therefore the government cannot put a timeframe for such to have left the country of their origin. 

Doing such a thing is tantamount to infringing on their rights to live in their native country where their ancestors are,” he said.

He said the card was a mitigatory measure to ensure those affected were not discriminated against and denied their heritage.

In Jackalas No. 1, Minister Ngaka said he was addressing kgotla meetings on the Citizenship Act in villages along the border because they experienced high rates of illegal immigrants.

On other issues, Mr Ngaka appealed to Batswana to keep their registration cards safely so that they could exercise their constitutional right on October 23. He said the relevant office was concentrating on Omang cards to clear the backlog. ENDS