Zim upheavals feared could cause spike in Botswana COVID-19
Chakalisa Dube | Friday August 14, 2020 12:58
There is currently tension in Zimbabwe. There have been widespread reports of police brutality against civilians, activists and human rights protesters who are against some of the initiatives taken by the current regime. Some of those who have reportedly spoken against the government have been jailed while others have been abducted. The attacks on civilians have even given birth to an online movement called #Zimbabwean Lives Matter.
The violence by security forces has sparked fears that there might be a surge in the cases of illegal immigrants in Botswana, which might contribute to the rise of COVID-19 cases.
Tensions in Zimbabwe have in the past resulted in many Zimbabweans fleeing to neighbouring countries such as Botswana using non-gazetted points.
Botswana shares an 834 Kilometres border with Zimbabwe, with the Ramokgwebana border being the mostly used. This week, police spokesperson Dipheko Motube said as one of the key custodians of the country’s law enforcement they are always ready for any eventuality.
“ While I cannot directly comment on the issues in Zimbabwe, as the police we continue to explore various mechanisms that can help us effectively deal with illegal immigrants given the prevailing circumstances. We do so working with our stakeholders such as the Botswana Defence Force (BDF). It is important to continue evolving systems that will help us manage the porosity of our borders to the benefit of Batswana.”
Motube added: “We are alive to all the challenges and dynamics associated with residents and non resident illegal immigrants that is why we always do utmost best to provide a watertight security at our borders”.
In recent weeks, Botswana has experienced a significant number of Zimbabweans who continue to cross into the country from Zimbabwe. When briefing councillors recently Francistown City Council, Town Clerk Lopang Pule highlighted that the threat posed by Zimbabweans who cross into Botswana illegally is real.
Giving a District Structure COVID-19 Report during a special full council meeting recently, Pule said that law enforcement officers have informed the council that whenever they patrol on helicopters, they see illegal immigrants crossing in and out of the country along the Botswana/ Zimbabwe border.
He said that the trend could lead to a rise in COVID-19 case as well as criminal activities. Some of the COVID-19 cases have been attributed to illegal immigrants. Zimbabwe has also confirmed imported COVID-19 cases from Botswana. Addressing the North East District Council recently, Divisional Commander North, senior assistant Commissioner, Cynthia Setilo said illegal immigrants were a concern in the North East District and its neighbouring areas including Francistown.
Police figures show that during the lockdown (April to June) 1,100 illegal immigrants were arrested in the North East District. Many observers have said that the trend highlights the porous nature of Botswana’s borderline with Zimbabwe and that illegal immigrants have the potential to derail efforts by the former to curb a surge in COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, Botswana is yet to condemn Zimbabwe’s attack on peaceful anti-corruption protests but leader of opposition Dumelang Saleshando recently rebuked the latter government for condoning state-sponsored violence against activists. “We further urge civil society in Botswana to rise and mobilise in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe. We urge the unions, clergy, student formations and other pro-democracy NGOs to come up with ways to pile pressure on the ZANU PF regime. To our civil society and NGOs we say silence and inaction is not the answer,” he said in Parliament this week.
He added: “As we raise our voice in indignation, we also wish to state that we also wish to state that we too associate ourselves with the globally trending hashtag #ZimbabweanLivesMatter”.