Immigration boss assures of calm at the borders
Ryder Gabathuse | Friday November 17, 2017 12:36
He emphasised however, that they will not leave anything to chance indicating that they will keep the Zimbabwe situation under constant check.
This is despite the reported tense security and political situation since Wednesday in Zimbabwe this week with the military having taken over the seat of power in what they have since branded, “bloodless correction.” Mugabe, his wife Grace and some of his closest allies have been thrown into an as yet unresolved house arrest.
There is generally fear that the military dominance in Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe, might throw the SADC nation into a state of panic with civilians fleeing in fear for their dear lives.
Pule assured the nation that his team of officers at the borders and stakeholders who include the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Botswana Police Service and the Directorate on Intelligence and Security Services are on high alert.
“Just this morning, we were looking at our numbers from the borders and we were comforted that they did not suggest anything worrying at all. We’re closely monitoring the situation,” Mabuse said yesterday.
The Immigration boss suggested that even the Zimbabwean civilians have been assured that the current situation will ensure calmness prevails.
Mabuse stated that if there were any indications that the situation in Zimbabwe was spilling into Botswana’s borders, the numbers would quickly show especially at the monitored gazetted points of entry. Authorities are also monitoring the ungazetted points of entry along the border.
He also explained that weekends in most cases experience a rise in the number of entry/exit as people do come to Botswana from Zimbabwe for their shopping needs and visit their friends and relatives both sides of the border.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has been readying itself for the festive season operations which commenced the beginning of November and therefore, any influx will find the team ready.
“I can assure you that as stakeholders we are therefore ready for any eventuality at our borders,” stressed Mabuse indicating that although he may not make public their plans, “but we are ready for any eventuality as a unit”.