That is millions of Pula spent in the exercise in the last 10 years since Botswana found itself faced with this undesirable situation. But the main problem is not just the millions spent - it is the resources constraint. The current situation whereby the police's duty is to hunt down illegals, who a few days later are back on the streets of Botswana, does not seem to be working. Indeed, it is like pouring water into a leaking container. Police cells, according a senior police officer quoted in our story in this edition, can no longer cope with the high number of illegals they contain on a daily basis. Besides these people (illegals) need proper care, ablutions and food. To hear a senior police officer decrying that even the ablutions cannot cope with the high number of illegals is proof that an alternative and long lasting solution has to be found as a matter of urgency. According to a Department of Immigration official quoted in the same story, there is no alternative but to carry on with the strenuous routine. One thing is clear though, the stakeholders need to come together under one roof and thrash out a working solution without creating any perception of xenophobia towards our neighbours.
We also need healthy foods and drinks in shops
