Amid the tumult, traffic and human rush that reflects a normal busy day in Gaborone, a lone figure cuts across the city. This person is dusty and listless.
She is a “nobody” in the bigger scheme of things here, where fast living characterizes the urban areas.
However, like every other human being, she has dreams, ambitions and challenges. She has a heart ÔÇô which is all but broken.
She has a spirit which although defeated, shows a lingering resilience and a will to survive.
Sheila* has been in Botswana for 10 years now. Although the economic situation in her home country Zimbabwe has improved, things still aren’t easy. She decided to come to Botswana because it’s nearer to home.
Whenever Sheila spots a police vehicle, she darts, ducks and dives ÔÇô her heart beating fast, her head spinning.
She has been arrested several times before. She has been questioned, searched, sometimes beaten up when resisting arrest, bundled into a truck, taken to waiting jail cells before being transported towards the Ramokgwebana border, and dumped there.
She returns soon enough, through ungazetted points however, as do many other people from her country.
Sheila is one of many illegal migrants roaming around Botswana in search of a better life.
She has done many things from plaiting hair, to child-minding, selling in a store and even prostituting, until she realized “it’s not for her”.
She doesn’t concern herself with forging friendships, dating or “nice time”; she’s here to work.
Unlike before, however, jobs are scarce.
“Botswana seems to be heading in Zimbabwe’s direction. People don’t have money. I now go to rich people and beg for jobs. The makgoa pay better,” she says as she sips from the can of soft drink I offer her.
Has she heard of government’s plans to get rid of illegal migrants?
She fixes a brooding, glassy, and distant stare at me before responding. “Botswana has never wanted us. Our people have been harassed, beaten and sometimes killed. I don’t know why Batswana hate us so much,” she says.
As we part ways after our brief encounter, Sheila walks away with a tired but confident stride. There’s an air of hope about her. She’s down, but not out…
Since gaining independence in 1966, Botswana has rapidly evolved from an impoverished migrant sending country to a migrant receiving country that has attracted skilled professionals from across the African continent.
Botswana’s national forecast during the late 1990s was positive. Significant change had been achieved in household income levels, education, food stability, access to potable water and primary healthcare.
The United Nations also commended Botswana for its advancement of democratic governance, human rights, constitutional development and gender equality.
This inspiring outlook was reflected in the migration patterns of Batswana, who maintained consistently low levels of emigration and embraced an ardent patriotic national culture.
Research conducted by the Southern African Migration project between 1997 and 1998, in partnership with University of Botswana linked low levels of emigration to high rates of nationalism.
Of the 939 respondents in the national survey, 97 percent were proud of being Botswana citizens.
The research also revealed that Batswana felt their home country offers a higher quality of life across a range of social indicators than neighbouring countries, 86 percent felt levels of democracy, freedom, and peace and safety were higher in Botswana.
Sixty percent of respondents felt their income would be higher if they emigrated, and 57 percent felt that their prospects for professional advancement would improve. Despite measured interest in living and working abroad, only three percent felt they were likely to emigrate within six months, attesting to the “pull” of a high quality life back at home.
The number of legal non-nationals living in Botswana tripled between 1971 and 1991 from 10 861 to 29 557. By 2001, this number had increased by six-fold to 60 716.
The Botswana government simultaneously established policies to ensure the future well being of its own workers, and mitigate reliance on skills importation.
Investments were made into education, and government adopted a localization policy, which required Batswana understudies to be trained in corporate and institutional positions held by non-nationals.
The buoyancy of the national economy has been the principal driver behind this transition from migrant sending to migrant receiving, with consistent increases in GDP averaging 6.1 percent annually, between 1966 and 1995. This made Botswana one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Becoming the “Gem of southern Africa” didn’t come without challenges. Botswana faced several critical limits to economic growth, which include underdeveloped infrastructure, lack of start-up capital, a small population and a largely unskilled workforce.
To combat these limitations, government adopted an open approach to the migration policy, allowing unrestricted entry to visitors, tourists and job seekers, soliciting foreign investments through incentives for multinationals and courting foreign professionals to work and live in Botswana.
The value of Botswana’s “open” migration policy has of late declined. With an increased educated and skilled domestic labour force, dependence on foreign skills is waning and there is a more restrictive immigration policy shifting in.
This process has been hastened by the dramatic unforeseen arrival of thousands of undocumented Zimbabweans through clandestine channels, fleeing political turbulence and the economic meltdown in their country from the late 1990s.
Botswana’s government reacted swiftly by introducing firm border controls and harsher punishment for illegal immigrants.
Data on cross-border movement in 2002 showed that 533 154 people arrived in Botswana from Zimbabwe, while 510 623 departed, with about 40 percent of the trips classified as “visiting” or “holiday”.
Some Zimbabweans have shunned border entry-exit points for clandestine crossings into Botswana, mainly due to the absence of proper travel and work documents. The number of Zimbabweans here has been estimated between 60 000 and 800 000. Despite their contribution to Botswana’s economic growth, changes in the country’s stance on migration may prompt many to consider relocating.
Competition for jobs and disputes over significantly higher wages on average for foreign workers has heightened labour tensions and compounded the perception that foreign workers “are here to steal Batswana’s jobs”.
Between 2011 and 2013, about 126 333 irregular migrants were repatriated. During the above-mentioned period, about P 2 950 492 was used to repatriate irregular migrants. Most irregular migrants are willing to work for low wages under sub-standard working conditions and distort the labour market. There have been cases where irregular migrants were subjected to exploitation.
However, many suffer in silence because they see this condition as a better option than taking repatriation.
Criminal activities in the country and some practices not in compliance with the laws have also been attributed to irregular migration.
As part of National Development Plan 10, the government has undertaken to develop a strategy for the management of irregular migration.
During a recent Pitso on irregular migration held under the theme: “Ensuring safer migration towards socio-economic growth and national security”, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Edwin Batshu divulged government’s plans to combat irregular migration.
“In an endeavor to address the challenges pertaining to migration, the government has commenced the process of formulating a national migration policy that will provide guidance in the management of irregular migration.
“The policy may not necessarily eradicate irregular migration but will assist in managing the challenges associated with it. In particular, the penalties for irregular stay and hiring of irregular migrants were reviewed.
“The penalty for overstaying was increased from P10 to P100 per day. This has not reduced irregular migration, thus challenging us to look for better effective ways of managing this challenge,” he said.
Batshu said the theme presupposes government’s readiness to engage and find a lasting solution to this niggling issue.
“Our current policy of trace, arrest and repatriate has worked to a certain degree. Legally, irregular migrants ought to be prosecuted before being repatriated to their countries of origin, but due to the magnitude of their numbers such action would clog the criminal justice system.
“In trying to come up with a lasting solution, it is important to acknowledge some of the push and pull factors contributing to irregular migration. The policies we attempt to put in place may be meaningless unless we take the realities in some of our neighbouring countries into consideration.
“Most importantly, the success of our efforts as a country to manage migration is premised on the efforts made by our neighbours towards migration management. We have a fear as a small economy with small population that if left unmanaged, irregular migration causes a serious social and security problem.
“We are however challenged to proceed with caution lest our action be misunderstood and breed xenophobia. We should remain resolute and assure our people that they are safe and that their country,” Batshu noted.
