nd other districts near the frontier with Zimbabwe.
“Our main aim is to arrest, charge and deport possibly all the illegals (immigrants). I may not know the exact figures for now, but I can only confirm that the past operations have netted a high number of illegals. The figures are definitely worrying,” Francistown police commander Alakanani Makobo told the Press.
The operation will involve the police and immigration authorities. Relations between the two southern African states have soured in recent years with Zimbabwe accusing Botswana of ill-treating its citizens visiting that country.
Gaborone denies ill-treating Zimbabweans and says immigrants are arrested only if they enter Botswana illegally or when caught committing crime.
Botswana, whose government has come the closest to openly criticising Mugabe ‘s controversial rule, deported 29 837 illegal Zimbabwean immigrants between April and September this year.
Thousands of Zimbabweans each year flock into neighbouring countries, especially more prosperous Botswana and South Africa, as they flee home because of hunger, worsening economic hardships and political violence. -ZimOnline
2.11.2006
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Botswana to expel illegal Zims
GABORONE - Botswana police say they have begun a campaign to round-up illegal immigrants from neighbouring Zimbabwe and expel them.
The clean-up campaign - launched last Tuesday and the third such operation this year by Botswana authorities - will focus on the second largest city of Francistown a
The clean-up campaign - launched last Tuesday and the third such operation this year by Botswana authorities - will focus on the second largest city of Francistown a