03 Sep 2013

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has not cancelled Botswana Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs).

The ministry’s acting assistant manager communications, Mr Letso Mpho confirmed in an interview that they continued to issue ETDs to applicants with emergencies if travel was within the neighbouring countries that allowed such documents.

Mr Mpho, however, noted that South Africa had stopped to assist Botswana citizens in possession of ETDs to travel into South Africa.

He said South Africa did not accept ETDs unless there was a letter from the ministry justifying why travellers were using such documents. That came in the wake that some travellers were allegedly not allowed to use temporary passports or ETDs.

Mr Mpho also said government had since April this year stopped accepting ETDs and temporary passports from South African and Zimbabwean travellers because they were manual hence created delays of in-putting data manually at the Botswana Border Control System.

He indicated that to facilitate cross border movement, government used machine-readable documents that easily confirm their authenticity while the ETD did not give the history of travel, which he said was essential. He said in cases of emergencies prior arrangements were made with relevant authorities for travellers to be allowed access to cross with such documents. 

Mr Mpho however, said the travellers should produce valid evidence of an emergency such as a certificate in the case of death. ENDS