24 Apr 2020

Zimbabweans turn themselves in

Masunga Police have observed with concern, a trend of Zimbabwean nationals who present themselves at police stations carrying groceries seeking to be deported back home.

Speaking to BOPA in an interview, Masunga Police Station Commander Superintendent Gaolatlhe Ngayaya said a total of 15 illegal immigrants presented themselves at the police station on April 21 while seven handed themselves on April 22.

She stated that this trend seemed suspicious more so that it was common during month end.

Supt Ngayaya indicated that the police suspicion was that the illegal immigrants had returned back home to Zimbabwe at the start of the lockdown in their country and then re-entered Botswana through ungazzetted points to come and get outstanding wages, or do some piece jobs and then bought groceries to take home.

She said investigation were on going to find out entry points used by the illegal immigrants because it was difficult to obtain such information from the immigrants.

Supt Ngayaya stated that all the illegal immigrants who turned themselves in were deported back to Zimbabwe on the same day through Ramokgwebana border.

Furthermore, the station commander revealed that illegal immigrants opted to present themselves at police stations rather than border jumping because they aware that law enforcement officers would protect them.

She noted that usually when law enforcement officers spot them during border patrols, they run away abandoning their luggage, hence they now preferred to hand themselves in so that they exit through the border.

Supt Ngayaya further highlighted that the illegal immigrants were aware that there was cross border crime where some of their countrymen would pounce on them at the ungazzetted points and rob them. Ends