26 Sep 2024

The government of Botswana has stepped up its efforts to protect refugees residing at Dukwi Refugee Camp.

Addressing Refugees at Dukwi recently on the developments affecting them, Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni explained that during the last sitting of Parliament, the Refugees Recognition and Management Bill 2024 was passed with the aim to make provision for acknowledging, recognising and managing as well as protecting refugees in Botswana in line with their special circumstances.

Minister Shamukuni said once signed, the bill would improve the application of the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951, the 1967 protocol relating to the status of refugees and the 1969 Organisation of African Unity Convention concerning the specific aspects of refugee problems in Africa, to which Botswana is a signatory.

The bill proposes the necessary administration details for effective management of refugees, including the introduction of an Appeals Board, which will be responsible for considering and deciding appeals of decisions made by the eligibility committee and the commissioner.

“The appeals body may after hearing an appeal either confirm, set aside or substitute the decision made and give a new lease of life to an individual whose asylum application was turned down,” he said.

Furthermore, he highlighted that there were over 240 individuals who applied for recognition as refugees in Botswana and were rejected by both the government and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

He added that his ministry was working with the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs to relocate such individuals to the Francistown Centre of Illegal Immigrants and process them for deportation to their countries of origin.

“I wish to inform all the concerned that all processes will be done safely in dignity and according to international refugee protocols,” he said.

In addition, he highlighted that his ministry undertook a mini skills audit of all refugees to come up with measures that could improve livelihoods and assist them to live meaningfully. As such, those who submitted their qualifications and credentials were currently being facilitated by the Refugee Affairs department to acquire both residence and work permits in order to seek professional employment in various sectors.

On other updates, the minister said since last year’s meeting with the refugees, his office had received 10 applications comprising of 55 individuals for consideration by Department of Immigration for local integration or citizenship.

He noted that all the applications that were received were approved and he granted the applicants a waiver to have the period that they stayed in Botswana considered as ordinary stay to meet the requirements for application of citizenship.

Meanwhile, deputy representative for UNHCR, Mr Igor Ciobanu said through the collaboration efforts of UNHCR, BotswanaPost and the government of Botswana they had successfully rolled out the Cash-Based Interventions to refugees and already beneficiaries had received their distribution for July and August, marking a significant step forward.

With this continued partnership, he said, they aimed to empower refugees with greater choice and the ability to meet their own needs fostering self-reliance, adding that prioritising cash distribution allowed beneficiaries to help local market and take advantage of its opportunities at their discretion. ENDS