21 Mar 2023

Records from the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs have revealed that since 2014 to date, a total of 463 Batswana have renounced Botswana citizenship and left the country.

Minister Anna Mokgethi said Batswana who relinquished their citizenship were not expected to state reasons.

Ms Mokgethi explained that for one to renounce their citizenship they were mandated to prove that they had acquired citizenship of another country so as to avoid rendering them stateless.

“The ministry does not have data on the reasons why citizens denounced their Botswana citizenship and left the country. 

Also,  the ministry does not have data on Botswana nationals who left the country for both economic and political reasons since 2014,” she said.

She added that as it was the case with those who had renounced their citizenship, citizens exiting Botswana were not expected to state reasons for their departure.

Ms Mokgethi also told Parliament that the literature indicated that generally, migration in Africa was mainly characterised by cross border movements mainly through intra African movement of persons from one region of the continent to the other for varied reasons.

She said it was estimated that 80 per cent of the migration took place within the continent. 

“As a country that is faced with unique and complex migration challenges Botswana has since taken heed of the call for a comprehensive approach to migration,” she added.

Also, she said as a middle income country, Botswana was a country of origin, transit and destination for various categories of migrants, which included tourists, business persons, migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers.

Presently, she said there were 792 refugees and 143 asylum seekers in the country. 

She said since 2014 to date 139 700 foreign nationals were issued with permits which included permanent residence, exemption certificates and Botswana blue card to stay in Botswana.

Mr Caterpillar Hikuama had asked the minister to apprise Parliament on the general status of migration in the country and the rate at which foreign nationals were seeking both economic and political refuge in the country for the past 15 years.

Mr Hikuama further wanted to establish the number of Botswana nationals who had left the country for both economic and political reasons and that of Batswana who left and denounced Botswana citizenship from 2014 to date as well as reasons for doing so. Ends