14 May 2025

 The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services has announced the relocation of over 400 undocumented immigrants from the Francistown Centre for Illegal Immigrants to Dukwi Refugee Camp. 

The announcement was made at the Francistown centre for Illegal Immigrants on Monday when both Minister Nelson Ramaotwana and Assistant Minister Augustine Nyatanga visited the centre. Mr Ramaotwana said the decision followed a visit by Mr Nyatanga to the centre in February, where he gathered concerns from the persons who had ask for refugee status and compiled a comprehensive report.

Additionally, he said First Lady Kaone Boko also raised concerns about the centre regarding the treatment of the said individuals, particularly the welfare of young children, who were detained during the time she visited the centre. 

Mr Ramaotwana highlighted that extensive consultations were then conducted based on the findings of the Assistant Minister’s report, following which a decision was taken to relocate them to Dukwi Refugee Camp, where conditions and treatment were more humane as compared to the centre. He said it was unjust to detain individuals without charges, trials or convictions, adding that the centre was a prison as the laws and conditions were those of a prison. 

“The new government is based upon human rights centric approach,” Mr Ramaotwana said, adding that according to the Constitution, no one should be subjected to inhumane and degrading punishment without a trial.

The Botswana Prison Services Divisional Commander, Shathani Thela expressed gratitude to the minister and his assistant for their visit to the centre, which he said provided solution to a prolonged detention of asylum seekers. 

He said as the holding centre, they had seen high levels of mental health disorders such as depression, psychosis and other mental related disorders mainly because of the prolonged or indefinite detention. He said the situation did not affect detainees only but also the caretakers, who were the officers directly involved in security, care and management of them.  

Mr Thela further indicated that it was time government had a framework for immigration detainees particularly asylum seekers, which would prioritise human rights, adherence to international standards and ensure detention was done as a last resort, and used only when it was necessary for public safety. 

“The framework should include mechanisms for regular review of detention decisions, alternatives to detention and special considerations to vulnerable individual such as children, expectant women, persons with disabilities and those with mental needs,” he said.

Some of the rejected asylum seekers expressed gratitude to government decision to relocate them to Dukwi camp. Precious Kazadi, a 12-year-old boy from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said he was happy for the decision taken and he also thanked the First Lady who visited and promised them the best. ENDS