Duma Gideon Boko, Botswana’s newly elected president, has called for temporary work and residence permits for thousands of undocumented Zimbabweans who have crossed the porous border into the country.
His remarks come as he prepares for a historic inauguration, following his unexpected victory that ended the ruling party’s 58-year dominance.
Boko outlined the challenges posed by the influx of Zimbabweans who, due to limited documentation, find themselves marginalized and living outside the law.
“They come in and are undocumented. Then their access to amenities is limited, if it is available at all, and what they then do is they live outside the law and they commit crimes – and this brings resentment.”
Duma Boko
He emphasized the need for a formal approach that acknowledges their presence.
Zimbabweans Fill Labor Gaps
Botswana shares a long-standing border with Zimbabwe, and migration between the two countries has intensified over the past two decades as Zimbabwe’s economy crumbled under hyperinflation.
While exact numbers are unclear, official data reveals that from 2021 to 2023, Zimbabweans accounted for 98% of “irregular migrants.” Out of 13,489 recorded migrants during this period, 13,189 were Zimbabwean nationals.
Zimbabweans in Botswana often work in sectors that local citizens avoid, such as domestic services and farm labor. “A lot of these workers from Zimbabwe perform tasks that the citizen finds unattractive … they do jobs that would otherwise not get done and so there’s no conflict there,” Boko noted.
However, proposals that ease travel restrictions between the two nations have sparked backlash. For instance, a plan to replace passport requirements with identity cards was met with strong public resistance last year, driven by fears that it would lead to an even greater influx of Zimbabwean migrants.
A Skill-Sharing Opportunity
Boko argues that formalizing the status of Zimbabweans could be mutually beneficial. He highlighted their role in filling skilled labor gaps, noting that in construction, many skilled workers come from Zimbabwe.
“In any and every construction site in Botswana, the majority of people with those skills are from Zimbabwe. We need to do a twin program of allowing them to come in and we utilize the skills that they have.”
Duma Boko
The president envisions a “skills transfer” system where Zimbabwean workers could train Batswana in trades like plumbing and welding. “We can’t stop people with skills from coming in when we don’t have the skills ourselves,” he said.
Economic Renewal at the Forefront
A human rights lawyer and founder of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party, Boko’s campaign resonated with a promise to improve Botswana’s economy.
One of his top priorities will be negotiating a new deal with diamond giant De Beers, following contentious negotiations under his predecessor.
Boko believes that securing favorable diamond revenue terms will boost investor confidence and bring significant financial benefits to the nation.
“With diamond revenues assured, investors would have confidence in Botswana, which would bring in money to the country,” he explained, stressing that this would pave the way for job creation.
Boko has set an ambitious target to create 100,000 jobs annually over the next five years in a country where nearly 30% of the 2.4 million population is unemployed. “We are facing a crisis of unemployment … It’s a ticking time bomb,” he warned.
A Vision for Youth Empowerment
Beyond job creation, Boko is committed to fostering youth entrepreneurship. He advocates for government support in providing access to affordable financing and opening market opportunities. “What they need from the government is access to affordable finance and access to markets, and the government should facilitate these,” Boko asserted.
Ahead of his inauguration at the national stadium in Gaborone, which has been declared a public holiday, Boko has shown a keen interest in breaking down barriers.
Known for encouraging accessibility and informal interactions, he underscores his desire to connect with citizens and promote inclusive governance. “Make sure everybody has easy access, not just access to come close, but also bring ideas and suggestions,” he said.
International dignitaries are expected to attend the inauguration, marking the start of Boko’s tenure and a potentially transformative era for Botswana.
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