23 Mar 2026

All foreign nationals entering Botswana will be profiled to improve data management concerning labor migration, trade and skills transfer, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Major General Pius Mokgware has said. 

Minister Mokgware said this while responding to a parliamentary question recently inndicating that the ministry had developed a National Migration Policy, which outlined a comprehensive framework for managing, regulating and controlling both regular and irregular migration while balancing security and humanitarian goals. 

“The development of this policy is advanced and is scheduled to be brought to Parliament in due course, after which implementation will follow,” he said. 

Maj. Gen. Mokgware noted that the Immigration Act (Cap. 25:02) served as the primary legal framework for migration. It provides provisions for addressing irregular migration, enforcing penalties for violations as well as establishing pathways to regularise undocumented migrants. 

To curb illegal migration, the minister highlighted that the ministry conducted joint border patrols with other law enforcement agencies and neighbouring countries. The minister emphasised that communities along border lines were frequently educated on the effects of migration regarding security, statelessness and the importance of safe and orderly movement. 

“For example, communities in villages like Tshidilamolomo, Sikwane, Ramatlabama and Moroka are often addressed during Kgotla meetings on the dangers of harboring illegal migrants,” he stated. 

He added that the ministry also held regular bilateral joint security and cooperation meetings to discuss Memorandum of Understanding. 

Okavango East legislator, Mr Gabatsholwe Disho, had asked for an update on legal and policy frameworks supporting the President’s directive for affirmative action to curb illegal immigration. Mr Disho also inquired about measures to document undocumented migrants, particularly those from Zimbabwe, and the operational strategies used for stakeholder engagement and cross-border coordination. BOPA