Botswana is going to legalize illegal migrants, a praiseworthy move. According to multiple sources including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Cable News Network, the Duma Boku government of Botswana — elected through the November 2024 presidential elections — has decided to legalize illegal migrants, along with granting them temporary work and residence permits. The legalization step will definitely help improve the lives of many undocumented migrants who face a range of challenges including unsafe working conditions and inaccessible healthcare in Botswana, from where many illegal migrants are often forcefully deported. But it remains unclear whether and how much the legalization step will improve the lives of the migrants in Botswana.
It is notable that there are tens of thousands of illegal migrants in Botswana. Illegal migrants have increased over the last decade in the country and have been a significant issue there since the early 2000s. Illegal migrants come from various countries such as Zimbabwe, which is one of the poorest countries in Africa and struggles to overcome its economic crisis, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Malawi. It hosts the world’s second-largest Zimbabwean migrants who fled their country because of economic woe (driven by hyperinflation two decades ago and other causes) and political tensions. But illegal migrants in Botswana do not have access to work permits due to the lack of legal documents and, consequently, many are unable to be self-sufficient.
But it remains unclear how much the legalization will integrate migrants and address the concerns of migrants and locals in Botswana — whose economy is one of the most stable in Africa and which has been praised for its long economic boom — which faces various challenges including the challenges of diversifying its economy and reducing poverty and unemployment (which increased from 18.9 percent in 2015 to 23.6 percent in 2023), a leading cause of poverty for many and inequality in the country, affecting a considerable number of people. Notably, legalized migrants in different countries often face various problems including limited access to formal economic opportunities and the lack of social services, needed for their integration into the host country.
But, moreover, there can be discrimination-based, xenophobic and other challenges in Botswana after the legalization of illegal migrants, many of whom are unemployed while many are farm laborers and engaged in some other economic activities. Many local residents Xenophobically perceive that migrants put strains on their resources such as education, healthcare, jobs, housing and social services and have carried out violent xenophobic attacks against migrants. This perception has also led to frequent police raids in areas suspected of harboring illegal immigrants and their deportations for not having papers and/or their involvement in crimes. The present legalization move of Botswana may also increase negative feelings among many of its citizens against legalized migrants.
The legalization of illegal migrants will contribute to the economy of Botswana through a variety of means including boosting productivity and contributing to tax revenues. It is desired that steps be taken to address the challenges of integrating migrants into society through declared legalization, an unusual move in Botswana, and the concerns of both migrants and locals. But legalized migrants need to be given the resources and support including access to economic opportunities to be integrated into society that can facilitate their human development. Creating community outreach initiatives can also be helpful for the integration of legalized migrants among local residents in the Republic of Botswana — greatly.
But the government of Botswana also needs to provide economic and other opportunities to the people to improve their economic, social and other conditions. For this, implementing programs aiming to provide job training and entrepreneurial opportunities for the local residents can be greatly helpful. Implementing policies that promote sustainable economic growth and reduce income inequality will also be helpful. Among other steps, supporting small businesses can help create job opportunities and stimulate the local economy.
