South Africans are reacting with mixed sentiments after the new President of Botswana, Duma Boko, said he will legalise undocumented Zimbabweans.
He proposed temporary work and residence permits to help formalize their status.
Botswana To Legalise Undocumented Zimbabweans
Speaking on the BBC Africa Daily podcast before his historic inauguration, Boko explained that the policy aims to address growing social and economic challenges linked to unregulated migration from neighbouring Zimbabwe.
“They do jobs that would otherwise not get done,” Boko said, acknowledging that many Zimbabwean migrants fill essential roles in agriculture, domestic work, and other areas that struggle to attract local workers.
Botswana, which borders Zimbabwe to the northeast, is home to the second-largest community of Zimbabweans fleeing economic instability and political hardship. The influx has placed a strain on public resources, sparking resentment among locals and leading to routine deportations of Zimbabweans who lack proper documentation.
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Botswana President Duma Boko Plans To Legalise Undocumented Zimbabweans [Image: X]“They come in and are undocumented. Then their access to amenities is limited, if it is available at all, and what they then do is they live outside the law and they commit crimes – and this brings resentment. So what we need to do is to formalise, have a proper arrangement that recognises that people from Zimbabwe are already here.“
Currently, Zimbabweans account for about 98% of Botswana’s undocumented migrants, according to recent government data.
Reactions From South Africans
People online had mixed sentiments about Boko’s plans to regularise Zimbabweans in Botswana.
Malebo:
“He’s doing what Kamala did in America, bad move.”
Pitbull:
“No, Look👀 : BOTSWANA Doesn’t have people, It Only has 1 million people.
Limpopo alone has 6 million people soooo I understand this man.👨”
Nathi:
“Finally, let them leave South Africa n go there. Crime will rise.”
Sifiso:
“So already Botswana is going down the spiral😩”