With the economic crisis in neighboring Zimbabwe deepening, Botswana announced Wednesday it had deported 26 717 Zimbabweans who were illegally living in the country last year.
Tens of thousands of Zimbabweans have fled over their country’s borders into South Africa, Mozambique and Botswana over the last three years to escape chaos in their homeland.
Zimbabwe is suffering its worst political and economic crisis ever, with an estimated 70% unemployment, inflation of more than 300% and a simmering hunger crisis. A black market in food and fuel, where inflation is as high as 600%, is
thriving.
The UN World Food Programme estimates food shortages will leave 5,5-million out of about 12-million Zimbabweans in need of emergency food aid this year.
A rash of politically motivated violence has been blamed on ruling party militants loyal to President Robert Mugabe, human rights groups say.
The illegal immigrants caught in Botswana and sent home often say they were searching for jobs, said Chief Immigration Officer Roy Sekgororoane.
Botswana’s authorities routinely conducts border patrols and holds raids throughout the country to find the illegal Zimbabwean immigrants, Sekgororoane said. – Sapa-AP