17 Nov 2013

Deportation of foreign investors from Botswana is said to be negatively affecting the country’s economy.

Debating the State-of-Nation Address in Parliament on Wednesday, November 13, Member of Parliament for Tonota South, Mr Pono Moatlhodi said the rate at which foreign investors were been declared illegal inhabitants despite a lengthy spell in the country left a lot to be desired.

He said it had surfaced on a number of cases that some foreigners got deported during the work permit renewal process as they were told that they did not meet the security requirements.

Mr Moatlhodi said it was sad to note that the country was on a mission to lure in foreign investments while at the other end, their deportation was on the rise. This, he added, was in contradiction with attracting foreign investment into the country.

He said the rate at which government was deporting foreign investors might, in the long run, discourage potential investors to come and establish businesses in Botswana. The local community, he said could not afford to sustainably contribute to the country’s economy without the input of foreign investors.

“Government should consider the number of jobs that are lost when one foreigner investor get deported back to his country of origin, therefore it will be wiser to consider other mediation than deportation,” said Mr Moatlhodi.

The Tonota south legislator also raised a concern regarding the promotion of citizen economic empowerment through the Citizen Entrepreneurship Development Agency (CEDA) funding saying that it is rosy on paper for citizen to get funding but the agency has however rejected more applicants than they have funded.

“CEDA needs to live to its mandate and ensure that locals’ empowerment is encouraged,” he said. Furthermore, Mr Moatlhodi said that was worrisome to highlight that, President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama said in his address that, “we are all deeply indebted to the founders of our great republic, who ignored the example of many by remaining true to their own conviction that government governs best when it governs by and with, as well, as for, the people.”

He said it was regrettable that Batswana continued to enjoy the fruits of democracy which were initially planted by dikgosi, while dikgosi on the other hand continued to work in dreadful conditions. He said government seemed not to give bogosi the respect and credit it deserved in particular at headman of arbitration.

He said it was saddening that headmen of arbitration continued to work without pay despite their contribution in building the society. He said government need to improve the working conditions of Dikgosi and align them with modern challenges. He said dikgosi needed to be empowered to continue nurturing the country’s democracy. ENDS