Tsiane says in a press statement that the replacement cost of a lost passport would go up to P1, 000. This is one of the new developments government has adopted to protect the integrity of Botswana passports. "In view of the current security risks posed by illegal ownership of Botswana passports by non-citizens, the ministry is continuously putting stringent measures in place to protect this important national document," the statement reads.
The ministry has raised concerns that some Batswana are using the passport for some purposes other than its original use and as such the ministry has urged the public to note that "a passport is a travelling document" and must be used solely for purposes of travelling. The expectation is that all citizens have National Identity Cards and Birth Certificates for identification purposes.The ministry has also abolished issuing students with passports for purposes of confirmation of age in sporting activities. Such confirmations will have to be done using birth certificates.
