27 Jul 2026

National Migration Policy aligns Botswana’s migration governance with international, continental and regional frameworks, which the country subscribes to, the Vice President and also Gaborone Bonnington South MP, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe has said.

Supporting a motion by the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General Pius Mokgware on Botswana National Migration Policy on Thursday, Mr Gaolathe said the policy supported the implementation of migration-related sustainable development goals.

He said the policy promoted compliance with international conventions on migration, refugees, anti-trafficking and human rights.

Therefore, Mr Gaolathe who is also the minister of Finance said it further enhanced Botswana’s credibility and influence in regional and international migration dialogues. 

Mr Gaolathe said the policy represented a landmark reform that provided Botswana with its first comprehensive framework for managing migration in a safe, orderly and strategic manner.

 He said the policy aligned with Botswana’s true north, which he said was a high-income economy that was digitally enabled, diversified, export-oriented in which every citizen was empowered, employed and fulfilled.

He also said the policy would facilitate the tourism sector, trade and business development through more efficient migration and management systems.

Mr Gaolathe said it would contribute directly to government’s ambition of transforming Botswana into a high-income, knowledge based and globally competitive economy.

Regarding the visa, permit and residence processes, Mr Gaolathe said the policy would improve the systems and therefore support direct foreign investment initiatives.

As a result, he said the move would also reinforce labour mobility to support productivity and economic diversification.

Designed to enhance document verification, ensure travel document integrity, and improve pre-entry vetting systems, Mr Gaolathe said the policy also aligned with SADC and African Union initiatives, thereby promoting regional integration.

He said the policy would facilitate safe and orderly cross-border movement of people and goods, support one-stop border posts to enhance trade efficiency, and strengthen cooperation on migration and border management with neighbouring countries; also recognising professional and academic qualifications within the region, aligning with Botswana’s ambition to become a regional hub for trade, investment and logistics.

Additionally, he noted that the policy would affirm Botswana’s reputation as a respected member of the international community, with improved migration data collection and analysis, enhancing coordination across ministries and ensuring faster visa and permit processing.

Furthermore, he said its intention was to foster engagement with the Botswana diaspora to attract skills, technology, research, collaboration and investment.

Despite concerns about it favouring facilitation over security, he said the policy would enhance Botswana’s border management and security architecture and strengthen border controls to prevent the entry of individuals posing security risks.

Mr Gaolathe said the policy would promote cooperation among immigration security and law enforcement agencies within and outside Botswana, establishing early warning and rapid response systems for migration-related security threats and further enhance capacity to combat human trafficking, migrant smuggling and transnational crime.

He said the policy would strengthen accountability, monitoring and evaluation of migration programmes. ENDS