Gov�t urged to consider refugee integration
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday July 26, 2017 12:20
The MPs said that if integrating some refugees can be useful to the development of the country’s economy it may be wise for the government to consider looking into the matter.
This followed a question to the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Shaw Kgathi from the MP for Nata-Gweta, Polson Majaga who had wanted to know if there are any plans to consider integration of some refugees in Botswana since the country’s population can accommodate such.
Majaga questioned the minister if he was aware that some refugees are married to Batswana and that some have children with a number of them having stayed at Dukwi Refugee Camp for 18 years or more.
“Are you aware that some of them, especially those who have overstayed in Botswana are professionals who can develop the country if given citizenship. Most developed countries have integrated refugees and they have since made an impact in those countries’ economic developments,” Majaga explained.
Majaga stated that looking at the country’s population he does not see why government is delaying to integrate some of the overstayed refugees. He said some refugees could help ease the country’s skills shortage as in the past government and private companies have been struggling to fill vacancies, as most locals are still inexperienced.
Sharing the same sentiments as Majaga, the Francistown South MP Wynter Mmolotsi added: “Given the length of time some of the refugees have stayed here, don’t you think it is time for government to consider giving them the opportunity to permanently reside in Botswana”.
Mmolotsi said that it was important to quickly integrate them to ensure they became a benefit, not a burden to the country’s economic.
Responding to the questions Kgathi said he was aware of refugees who have stayed for 18 years and more at the Dukwi Refugee Camp. He said that the number includes recognised refugees, one being from Algeria, Angola, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Burundi respectively. He added that it also includes three from Uganda, 131 from Somalia, four from Rwanda and 883 from Namibia.
He, however, said that there are no plans to re-integrate refugees, but it would be noted that a number of refugees who meet the basic requirements have applied for consideration for naturalisation to the relevant ministry and some have been successful.
“I believe that these will be subjected to the same conditions like any other applicant and within the set quotas for naturalisation. I should highlight that the 1951 Convention on refugees does not include population size of the host country as a factor for re-integration of refugees,” Kgathi said.
He stated that he also believes that to do so would be contrary to the national population policies, which seek to balance population growth with the capacity of the economy to accommodate such growth.
Kgathi admitted to being aware that some refugees are married to Batswana and having children. He said that there is no law that excludes refugees from marrying and having children with Batswana.
“The Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs has policies that cover Batswana who are married and have children with refugees. Such people could be encouraged to make use of such policies,” Kgathi said.