Botswana: Land of the foreigner

Tourist arriving
Tourist arriving

Whose country is it any way? Batswana are a tiny minority in their own country and for over 15 years now, a trend has developed in which foreigners out number the locals by one to two.

The number of visitors to Botswana has over the years surpassed the country’s population. The visitors, mostly on short stay, come from over ten countries in the Americas, over 21 European countries, and from all over Africa and Asia. Botswana has become a beehive of activities for the millions of foreign nationals criss-crossing the land.

These figures do not include border jumpers, that is illegal immigrants, who arrive in Botswana from as far as Asia, and neighbouring African countries. One can just imagine the shocking statistics if illegal immigrants were also accounted for. Today, an estimated 2.5 million foreigners are recorded in Botswana in a year, if the latest statistics analysis from Statistics Botswana is anything to go by. This figure has been consistent since 2012 at least, according to the latest statistics analysis released on Friday. In fact, if the laws and policies of the country were to be designed according to the opinions of the majority, they would favour foreigners who make the majority of Botswana residents either as tourists, visitors, in transit and on business.

Editor's Comment
The people have spoken

In fact, early election results in some areas across the country, speak to large voter turnout which suggests that voters crowded at polling stations to decide appropriately. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) revealed that 80% of the 1,037,684 people who had registered to vote turned up to exercise their right.It’s unfortunate that at the time of cobbling this editorial comment, results had just started trickling in. We recognise that...

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