By Kwedu News
Botswana’s newly elected President, Duma Boko, has announced plans to grant temporary work and residence permits to undocumented Zimbabweans in the country.
The move seeks to address thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing economic woes back home and seeking refuge in Botswana.
President Boko said there is need to formalize the presence of Zimbabweans because as they come in their access to amenities is limited, if it is available at all.
He said as a result these Zimbabweans then live outside the law and commit crimes which brings resentment.
By providing a proper arrangement, Boko says it will help reduce tensions and promote economic growth.
The new leader said the initiative also focuses on skills transfer, allowing Zimbabweans to share expertise in areas like welding and plumbing.
“We can’t stop people with skills from coming in when we don’t have the skills ourselves. We need to develop these skills and it takes time,” he said.
The Botswana government through the move expects to boost the economy and create jobs, with Boko aiming to generate 100,000 new employment opportunities annually over the next five years.
A human rights lawyer and founder of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party, Boko’s primary focus is economic improvement.
Boko seeks to sign a new deal with De Beers, one of the biggest diamond companies in the country to ensure diamond revenues, and investment attraction
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