28 Oct 2013

The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu, has commended officers of his ministry in Maun for providing satisfactory service to the Regional Immigration Selection Board, with a turnaround time of 32 days.

Mr Batshu said considering the due process that had to be carried out, it was understandable that the process might take longer than the 14 days allotted to process work and residence permits and that effective immediately the turnaround time would be 30 days.

He however said he was concerned about cases that took months and how it was unacceptable because they had a responsibility to their customers. He urged officers to work professionally, timely and objectively and to desist from keeping their uncertain about progress of their applications.

He said he was also concerned about the response officers gave to people whose applications rejected. He said it was not enough to say the application was rejected in the best interest of

Botswana; the application should be told of he or she did not pass the security clearance. He reiterated that the facts should be communicated courteously. He said he was concerned that some people continued to stay in Botswana even after the rejection of their applications. Such people should be deported, he said. He vowed to weed out corrupt officers from the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs

“It is not you who deny them, it is the system, so do not be swayed by these desperate people,” he said. He said as gatekeepers, they should be vigilant and immune to bribery from individuals who want to destroy the security and peace of the country. Mr Joel Heii, the secretary of the Regional Immigration Selection Board, said shortage of transport hindered the board from attaining the stipulated turnaround time.

Other resources, including staff, were limited. However, he added, some officers were multi-tasking to do the job. Mr Batshu said the Immigration and Citizenship System should be improved because as it was, a person could apply in different areas and the system would not show, which was a waste of time. ENDS