Rejected asylum seekers not forgotten

Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday June 30, 2025 06:00

Speaking during the World Refugee Day commemoration, Ramaotwana announced that his ministry took a deliberate decision to remove rejected asylum seekers from indefinite detention in the Francistown Centre for Illegal Immigrants (FCII) to the refugee settlement in Dukwi. He further said that the relocation in itself does not mean that they have overturned the decision to reject their application for asylum, but rather to stand in solidarity with them in accordance with the Constitution, which prohibits arbitrary detention without trial. “I encourage the relevant ministry to engage all stakeholders in finding a durable solution for all individuals whose asylum applications did not succeed and further impress on all concerned to ensure the laws and regulations are adhered to,” he added.

Additionally, the minister said they stand in solidarity with refugees by giving them an opportunity to interact with government. Refugees are accorded an opportunity to elect committees amongst themselves to communicate issues that affect them as a community, he added. Ramaotwana also indicated that the arrangement works very well because cross cutting issues are dealt with amicably and effectively and there is information flow from both ends. Therefore, he implored the refugee welfare community to continue the good work they do in management of the settlement and his ministry further pledges yearly engagement with the refugees to address issues raised in the Welfare Committee. He also said the ministry has progressed very well in attaining the pledges made at the Global Refugee Forum. Ramaotwana indicated that the pledges are to review the Refugees (recognition and control) Act, to include refugees in the national development agenda, to issue identity and travel documents as well as integration of protracted cases, unaccompanied minors and individuals at risk of being stateless. He added that the act has been reviewed and will commence as soon as administrative structures have been established. He said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has dealt with identity documents. Ramaotwana was optimistic that the country will be able to issue travel documents to refugees before the end of this financial year. For his part, the local refugee Welfare Committee chairperson, Johnson Mkeyo said that they have a huge number of rejected asylum seekers. He indicated that the rejected asylum seekers live in uncertainty, and they are unable to fully access certain essential services such as education. He also said that the same group of people can only access primary health services and if they go for secondary health services, they have to meet their bills, yet they have no source of income. Mkeyo indicated that they appreciate the efforts put in place by the government for the needs of the rejected asylum seekers.

However, he pleaded with both the government and UNHCR to find a solution to the challenges since it is very stressful to live in limbo not knowing where to find solution. He also said Botswana has hosted refugees from different countries across the continent for many years but the development on refugees and their contribution to the host country is low due to strict refugee laws. Mkeyo stated that the relaxation of refugee laws will allow changes on employment restrictions. “Amongst the refugee community, we have a competent workforce capable of creating jobs and employing both refugees and Batswana in order to reduce the unemployment rate and contribute significantly to the country’s economy,” he added. He further said Botswana educates and empowers refugees with skills but deny them the right to work and give back to the community that nurtured them. Mkeyo was also hopeful on the government intervention on scholarship for tertiary education for their children. “We have refugee students who completed high school with excellent academic results. They applied and got positive responses from respective universities but they cannot pursue their studies due to lack of financial support,” he added. He said due to the present situation, some of their children have slipped into depression while others have resorted to unsafe coping mechanisms such as alcohol abuse. The head of field office and liaison to SADC, UNHCR Botswana, Madoda Nasha thanked the government of Botswana for its unwavering commitment and support exemplified by the recent release of detainees from FCII to Dukwi refugee settlement. He said funding for critical refugee programmes whether provided by UNHCR or their partners to provide lifesaving aid, health services, education, water and sanitation is diminishing. Nasha stated that the decline threatens the very fabric of protection for the vulnerable people who have already endured so much jeopardising their safety, dignity and their future.