Duma Boko, Botswana’s newly elected president, aims to legalize undocumented Zimbabweans in Botswana by offering them temporary work and residence permits.
Speaking to BBC Africa Daily, he explained that many Zimbabweans in Botswana do jobs that locals don’t want, often in areas like domestic work and farming.
By giving these workers legal status, Boko hopes to improve conditions for everyone and reduce crime that stems from undocumented migrants living on the edge of society, BBC reported.
Botswana hosts the second-largest population of Zimbabweans who have left their home country due to economic difficulties. This decision is controversial in Botswana, where many are unhappy with the large Zimbabwean presence.
BBC notes that every day, Zimbabweans without documentation are deported from Botswana. President Boko’s decision to legalize their status may meet resistance, but he sees it as part of his plan to revive Botswana’s economy and improve relations between locals and Zimbabweans.
According to BBC, Boko’s plan also involves training local citizens in skills like plumbing and welding, skills that Zimbabweans commonly bring to Botswana.
He believes that as Zimbabwean workers continue contributing to sectors like construction, it’s an opportunity for Batswana to learn from them. BBC highlighted Boko’s hope that this will build new skills in Botswana, allowing citizens to eventually fill these roles themselves.
Boko, a human rights lawyer and leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party, made headlines for unseating the party that had governed for 58 years.
BBC mentions that he wants to break barriers, make himself accessible to the people, and focus on creating jobs.
His goal is to generate 100,000 jobs annually for the next five years, and he plans to support young people in starting businesses by providing access to affordable loans and markets.
In addition to legalizing Zimbabwean workers, BBC reports that Boko intends to finalize a new agreement with diamond giant De Beers to boost Botswana’s economy.
He believes that securing diamond revenue will attract investment, making Botswana more prosperous and helping tackle the nation’s high unemployment rate, which stands at nearly 30%.
Boko’s inauguration will take place in Gaborone’s national stadium, where international dignitaries will attend on Friday, a day declared a public holiday in celebration of this historic change in Botswana’s leadership, BBC concluded.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v3l3zr63vo