25 Aug 2024

Some legislators have called for integration of refugees across various communities in order to bring productivity to their host countries, including Botswana.

Contributing to the debate on the Refugees Recognition and Management Bill, 2024 recently Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse welcomed the Bill, saying it was long due owing to complexities that refugees were faced with, not only in Botswana, but worldwide.

Mr Keorapetse opined that the existing law, the Refugees Recognition and Control Act of 1968, had focused more on their control than protection, hence it was it was important to repeal and re-enact it with amendments, to enable government to recognise and manage refugees.

He argued that refugees should be integrated into the society and be allowed to marry and have families, have jobs and be given citizenship.

He, however, cautioned against the country lowering its guard and compromising issues of national security.

He suggested that the process of determining one’s refugee status be well understood, even by those seeking refugee status and even allow those rejected time to appeal and have access to legal representation.

“Some refugees fleeing into the country will enter at ungazetted points and therefore, those receiving them must be well informed to avoid conduct likely to violate their right and even subjecting them to some form of abuse,” he added.

For his part, Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga supported the Bill given that it was attentive of the fact that refugees had rights that must be respected and protected.

Mr Majaga said as a country with facilities for refugees, it was important to review its laws and ensure that they aligned with international standards.

Selebi Phikwe East MP, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana said it was important to understand that refugees were forced to travel far off due to pressing challenges and therefore, their coming to Botswana, as a land of peace and tranquillity, was driven by the desire to find comfort and sanctuary.

Mr Nkawana said some had to flee for fear of losing their lives based on the living conditions they were subjected to, hence his support for the Bill.

For Mr Wynter Mmolotsi of Francistown South, the Bill was a sign that Botswana was equally concerned about the challenges that refugees were subjected to and forced them to flee from their countries.

Boteti East legislator, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said it was important to pass the Bill as a matter of urgency since the country was currently experiencing an influx of refugees and it was necessary for the situation to be managed by an up to date legislation.

Mr Lelatisitswe said the laws that were used to determine refugee status must also be water tight to ensure that their numbers were manageable. He also said it was important to be cautious and guard against cases where officers dealing with refugees would award refugee status by taking bribes.

Mr Caterpillar Hikuama of Ngami said the world was equally challenged by increasing numbers of refugees. He said some were economic refugees while some were forced out of their countries by famine, among other reasons.  

“We must pay attention to economic refugees, they are equally exposed to life threatening situations, which dehumanise them,” he said. ENDS