22 Jun 2023

Government is committed to according asylum seekers the right to be heard as well as ensuring that their claims are assessed fairly and within the set refugee criteria.

Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni said this at this year’s World Refugee Day commemoration in Dukwi on Tuesday.

Minister Shamukuni said Botswana had always been a safe haven for the refugees that fled their homes with the hope of finding a sanctuary in a better place. As a way of continuing to give the refugee protection and shelter, Mr Shamukuni said his ministry was finalising the Refugee Management Bill whose objective was to strengthen the protection of asylum seekers and refugees.

Mr Shamukuni asserted that in collaboration with key stakeholder, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee they were dedicated to ensuring that they attained what they had set for themselves to do in protecting the asylum seekers and refugees in line with the refugees’ convention and domestic laws.

He noted that the cordial relationship that they shared dated way back and had enabled them to successfully achieve programmes to bring hope to refugees and jointly address their plight. 

“I am looking forward to conclusion of the project that we are working on together of transferring of the database,” he said.

In addition, he highlighted that his ministry would undertake some projects worth over P10 million in the camp, which would improve the welfare of the residents, adding that they were about to invite contractors to bid for those projects funded by the government.

The projects, he said, included the rehabilitation of water supply, maintenance of staff houses and construction of access roads as well as construction of a conference facility.

Mr Shamukuni said upon completion, the projects would significantly improve the living conditions in the camp and bring hope asylum seekers and refugees searched for when they fled their homes.

Meanwhile, Refugee Welfare Committee chairperson Ms Patience Takaona said they appreciated the great strides government was making towards considering the local integration of refugees.

However, she asked for the review of the Refugee Act, noting that they were hoping for relaxation of the law on refugee restrictions of movement and employment, which would give them a chance to operate to their full capacities without any hindrances.

“We need to be self-reliant and ease our providers’ burden and responsibility of taking care of our families,” she said.

The chairperson also asked for a review of the turnaround time for assessment of asylum seekers applications.

She said the delays were causing a lot of problems for asylum seekers as they did not fit in refugee programmes since they would not be having proper documentation. ends