Botswana/Zimbabwe: The threat of beating or torture for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters who fled Zimbabwe to Botswana; state protection available to MDC supporters who have been harassed by supporters of Zimbabwe National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in Botswana

Information on the threat of beating or torture in Botswana of supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) who fled Zimbabwe, and state protection available to those harassed by supporters of Zimbabwe National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in Botswana, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following information on the general situation of Zimbabweans in Botswana may be of interest.

In May 2002, ZANU-PF militants in Zimbabwe were reportedly accused of beating up and looting and destroying property belonging to suspected MDC supporters, and "hundreds of MDC members" fled the country and sought refuge in Botswana and other countries in southern Africa (The Daily News 9 May 2002).

The online South African news service News24, reporting in early January 2003, said that Botswana was faced with a serious immigration problem precipitated by an influx of Zimbabweans into the country (30 Jan. 2003). Quoting the chief immigration officer, News24 added that "about 125,000 Zimbabweans enter Botswana legally every month" through the northern border post of Ramokgwebana, though "many fail to return to Zimbabwe when their travel permits expire," while many others "illegally sneak across the 500-km fenced border at non-gazetted points" (News24 30 Jan. 2003).

Zimbabweans are reportedly fleeing their country as a result of political instability and food shortages (ibid.; IRIN 4 Mar. 2003; Financial Gazette 6 Feb. 2003). Because of hunger, economic crisis, mass unemployment and repression, about 160,000 refugees a month, "most of them illegal," have been arriving in Botswana (News24 6 Feb. 2003). This situation appears to have engendered anti-Zimbabwean sentiments among the Batswana (people of Botswana) as media sources report rising "xenophobia" among the Batswana who accuse Zimbabweans of being "illegal migrants," criminals and thieves (The Daily News 17 Mar. 2003; Mmegi/The Reporter 28 Mar. 2003; Financial Gazette 6 Feb. 2003; News24 30 Jan. 2003; ibid. 6 Feb. 2003). Other media reports indicate that Zimbabweans in Botswana are targeted for ill-treatment including harassment by the police, beatings, imprisonment, and, in a few cases, murder and deportations The Daily News 17 Mar. 2003; The Finacial Gazette 6 Feb. 2003; IRIN 4 Mar. 2003; Zambezi Times 11 Oct. 2002).

Quoting authorities in Botswana, Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reports that "200 Zimbabweans are arrested each day and transferred to a detention facility in Francistown, 500 km northeast of Gaborone, before being taken to the border" for deportation (4 Mar. 2003). The Financial Gazette, reporting in early February 2003, alleges that more than 2,000 Zimbabweans were being deported from Botswana to Zimbabwe on a weekly basis (6 Feb. 2003).

In March 2003, two Zimbabwean police officers alleged to be spies for the government of Zimbabwe, but whom the government of Zimbabwe claimed had absconded from duty, were reportedly arrested (Zimbabwe Independent 14 Mar. 2003). One was charged P100 (equiv. US$21.00) (while the other was "given a wholly suspended six-month sentence" (ibid.). Both were "immediately deported" Zimbabwe where they were expected to "face disciplinary action for absconding from duty" (ibid.).

The Daily News reports that four Zimbabweans have died at the hands of the Batswana police "because of the growing xenophobia" (17 Mar. 2003). In addition, the Zimbabwe Independent of 2 May 2003 alleges that "two Zimbabweans were killed in a Botswana prison after Batswana inmates teamed up with other African inmates to assault Zimbabweans."

The African Church Information Service (ACIS), the Zimbabwe Independent and the Zambezi Times indicate that incidents of harassment, accusations of being in the country illegally, beatings and deportations of Zimbabweans in Botswana also occurred in 2002 and earlier (ACIS 23 Dec. 2002; Zambezi Times 11 Oct. 2002). The ACIS, citing a Botswana newspaper, states that in late December 2002, "60 legal Zimbabwean visitors in Francistown claimed that they were raided and assaulted by police for no apparent reason," and that Batswana have accused Zimbabweans "of all conceivable evil[s] from stealing to allegedly spreading HIV/AIDS ... fuelling prostitution" (ACIS 23 Dec. 2003), and "of spreading the highly contagious foot and mouth disease" (ibid. 17 Feb. 2003). The Zambezi Times further claims that "a total of 18,000 illegal Zimbabwean immigrants were deported from Botswana last year, up from 11,000 the year before" (11 Oct. 2002).

In March 2003, Botswana parliamentarians allegedly welcomed the Immigration (Amendment ) Bill, 2003, but "cast doubt over its effectiveness in curbing the influx of illegal immigrants" (Mmegi/The Reporter 28 Mar. 2003). The amended Bill imposes "stiffer penalties" on people "aiding and abetting" illegal entry into Botswana and authorizes "the police to demand admission of guilt deposit of a minimum of P300 [equiv. US$62.00 [West Africa 2 - 8 June 2003, 35]) and a maximum P1000 (US$206.00 [ibid.]) from persons who enter the country unlawfully" (Mmegi/The Reporter 28 Mar. 2003).

As a result of the treatment of Zimbabweans in Botswana, relations between the Batswana and the Zimbabweans have reportedly deteriorated, and there is fear that this may have a negative impact on diplomatic relations between the two countries (ACIS 17 Feb. 2003; Zimbabwe Independent 2 May 2003; ibid. 14 Mar. 2003).

The government of Botswana has set up a commission to investigate the maltreatment of Zimbabweans in its country (Zimbabwe Independent 14 Mar. 2003). Botswana's opposition parties reportedly called for a meeting between the presidents of Botswana and Zimbabwe "to discuss the influx of Zimbabwean illegal immigrants" into Botswana (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

African Church Information Service (ACIS) [Nairobi]. 17 February 2003. Kholwani Nyathi. "Relations Between Botswana and Zimbabweans Worsen." [Accessed 12 June 2003].

_____. 23 December 2002. Kholwani Nyathi. "Anti-Zimbabwe Sentiments Mount in Botswana." [Accessed 16 June 2003]

The Daily News [Harare]. 9 May 2002. "Zambia: Lusaka on Alert for Influx of Foreigners." (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 17 March 2003. "Nswazwi Folks Want to Relocate to Botswana." [Accessed 12 June 2003]

Financial Gazette[Harare]. 6 February 2003. "East Africa: Botswana Opposition Parties Call for Mogae, Mugabe Meeting." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). 4 March 2003. "Destination Botswana: Hard Times for Zimbabwean Job-Seekers." [Accessed 12 June 2003]

Mmegi/The Reporter [Gaborone]. 28 March 2003. "Govt Plans Stiffer Penalties for Illegal Immigrants." (NEXIS)

News24. [Cape Town]. 6 February 2003. "Zim Refugees Flood Botswana." [Accessed 12 June 2003]

_____. 30 January 2003. "Zim Illegals a 'Major Problem.' " [Accessed 12 June 2003]

West Africa [London]. 2-8 June 2003. "African Currency Table."

Zambezi Times. 11 October 2002. "Botswana to Probe Alleged Rights Abuses." [Accessed 12 June 2003]

Zimbabwe Independent [Harare]. 2 May 2003. Fraser Mpofu. "Botswana: Border Officials Probed." (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 14 March 2003. "Zimbabwe: Botswana Deports 2 Zimbabwean Police Officers." (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 15 November 2002. Loughty Dube. "Harassment Worries Botswana MP." [Accessed 12 June 2003]

Additional Sources Counsulted

Africa Confidential

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series

Amnesty International

Botswana Centre for Human Rights

Country Reports 2000-2001.

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

The Indian Ocean Newsletter

IRB Databases

Resource Centre. Country Files. Botswana/Zimbabwe

Internet sources, including:

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

BBC Africa

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