16 investors granted citizenship
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Tuesday February 14, 2023 06:00
"Records from my ministry indicate that a total of 16 foreign nationals have been granted Botswana citizenship as investors/directors from 2018 to date. The majority of whom (7 or 43%) were South Africans, followed by Indians (6 or 38%) while the rest (3 or 18%) were nationals of other countries," she said. According to the minister, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Greece all have one national who has been granted Botswana citizenship within the period under review. With regard to possible implications for the economic inclusion goal, Mokgethi assured the House that the dispensation does not in any way have a negative impact on the economic inclusion initiative.
"This is primarily because the investors are involved in the priority sectors of the economy such as manufacturing, agriculture, information and communications technology (ICT), transport and logistics services and tourism sectors, which are able to create sustainable employment opportunities. Their businesses source different types of products and services locally hence creating opportunities for our people on the value chain. Consequently, they contribute to the development and diversification of the economy," Mokgethi added.
The issue of granting citizenship to foreign nationals has been a hot a potato for government for many years. Even people who have lived in Botswana for many years and brought development and investment to the country, and lived lives that are above-board have found it nearly impossible to attain citizenship while they are forced to wait anxiously for years for their applications to be approved. Members of Parliament have in the past accused the government of being reluctant to grant foreign nationals citizenship. "It would appear that we are reluctant to grant citizenship to these people. For our economy to grow we need their skills here," said Samson Moyo Guma, then MP for Tati East during the ministry's appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in 2016.