Botswana’s new president, Duma Boko, has announced plans to grant temporary work and residence permits to undocumented Zimbabweans in the country, aiming to address both economic and social issues tied to unregulated migration. The move comes as Boko, 54, prepares for his historic inauguration on Friday, having unseated Botswana’s ruling party of 58 years.
With Botswana hosting the world’s second-largest Zimbabwean community—many of whom fled economic hardship and political turmoil in their home country—the issue has long been a contentious one. The daily deportations of undocumented Zimbabweans underscore tensions around this migration. However, Boko asserts that integrating these workers into the economy legally would not only address local labor shortages but could also ease resentment and reduce crime by bringing these migrants into the formal sector.
Boko acknowledged the challenges posed by Botswana’s long, porous border with Zimbabwe. “They come in and are undocumented,” he explained. “Their access to amenities is limited… and they live outside the law, which brings resentment. We need to formalize a proper arrangement that recognizes people from Zimbabwe are already here.”
While statistics are limited, Zimbabweans make up a significant portion of what officials term “irregular migrants.” From 2021 to 2023, government data showed that 98% of 13,489 recorded cases of irregular migration involved Zimbabweans, with many performing essential work in Botswana as farmhands and domestic laborers. “A lot of these workers from Zimbabwe perform tasks that citizens find unattractive,” Boko noted. “They do jobs that would otherwise not get done, so there’s no conflict.”
Boko’s proposal has drawn mixed reactions; a recent proposal to allow identity cards in place of passports for travel between Botswana and Zimbabwe sparked public backlash, with concerns it might encourage further migration. However, Boko sees this initiative as an opportunity for skills transfer. He noted that Zimbabwean laborers bring valuable skills in fields like welding and plumbing, suggesting that Botswana’s workforce could benefit through collaborative training and skill-sharing.
An outspoken advocate for human rights and founder of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party in 2012, Boko is keen to cultivate a people-centered administration. His plans also include revitalizing Botswana’s economy by securing a stable diamond revenue stream through a renewed agreement with global giant De Beers. Boko believes a more favorable deal would boost investor confidence, which he hopes will aid in creating 100,000 jobs annually over the next five years.
In tackling Botswana’s high unemployment rate, Boko emphasized the need for government-backed affordable financing and market access to encourage youth entrepreneurship. His vision includes fostering self-employment and job creation among young people, signaling a forward-thinking approach to the nation’s pressing economic challenges.
Set to be sworn in at the national stadium in Gaborone, where Friday has been declared a public holiday for the event, Boko’s inauguration will welcome international dignitaries and mark the beginning of a new era in Botswana’s leadership.