21 Nov 2021

Botswana is a step ahead in eradicating statelessness,    one of the major concerns affecting humanity,  Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs permament secretary has said.

Addressing a workshop on statelessness in Gaborone recently, Dr Temba Mmusi said Botswana’s  two primary identification documents, birth certificate and national identity card (Omang) were a step forward in line with the 10-point global action plan to safeguard against statelessness.

Dr Mmusi stated that every birth within Botswana was issued with a certificate irrespective of the nationality of the child’s parents.

The birth certificate, he explained, was a form of identity for the child and a legal record of where and to whom the child was born, a precaution against statelessness.

Dr Mmusi said every child was also issued with a unique identifier at birth which would be used as the national identity number when  he/she attained the age of 16. 

The same unique number would be used to produce a death certificate, he stated.

Dr Mmusi said since either an identity card or birth certificate were required for accessing services, it was estimated that a very small number did not have identity documents.

The permanent secretary said a holistic review of the Citizenship Act was also planned with a view to safeguard against statelessness.

He said Botswana was doing away with renunciation or automatic loss of citizenship of dual citizens at the age of 21.

The move would go a long way in easing acquisition of Botswana citizenship by deserving individuals, he said.

Dr Mmusi said Botswana had over the years granted citizenship to either stateless people or those at risk of being stateless.

He said statelessness could lead to negative psycho-social effects not only to an individual but also the community one lived in.

 “Most often such persons are stigmatised and excluded from developments,” he said.

Dr Mmusi said statelessness affected millions of people around the globe, leaving them in extremely vulnerable circumstances.

As a result, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) launched the ‘I belong campaign’ in 2013 calling for total commitment by the international community to end statelessness.

Dr Mmusi said although Botswana only joined the international community in ending statelessness in May with three years left to complete the 2014-24 global action plan, it was the right move.

 UNHCR deputy representative, Mr Igor Ciobanu commended Botswana for joining and called for doubled efforts to resolve statelessness by 2024.

He said the right for every person to a nationality was as critical as ever. 

“As the world faces complex challenges like the global COVID-19 pandemic, effects of climate change and new and continuing conflicts, having a nationality, and all the rights and protections that emanate was essential,” said Mr Ciobanu.

Nationality, he said, meant being protected and included in responses to the challenges and the ability to fully participate in communities and societies.

He said statelessness was a man-made problem and could be prevented by making changes to nationality laws.

The two-day workshop is expected to give birth to a national plan of action towards ending statelessness in Botswana.ends