Botswana’s police chief has broken ranks with its government by blaming hordes of illegal border-crossers from Zimbabwe for a sharp increase in crime, a daily newspaper reported on Wednesday.
”The influx of illegal immigrants into Botswana, most especially the Zimbabweans, is a serious problem impacting negatively on the crime scene and undermines crime prevention efforts,” police commissioner Norman Moleboge told the Botswana Gazette.
”Zimbabweans have now become a formidable burden to the police service,” he said. ”The police facilities are overcrowded by Zimbabweans. Our facilities are flooded… and we are no longer able to maintain a proper upkeep of our offices.”
Botswanan President Festus Mogae last month vowed to crack down on illegal immigrants and constantly referred to the regional political problems in Zimbabwe without directly naming the country.
Botswana is currently experiencing a huge influx of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe as a result of a political and economical meltdown in the neighbouring country.
The country’s immigration department has said more than 125 000 Zimbabweans enter the country illegally every month. On an average, only 2 500 are repatriated every month.
The police boss said even law-abiding Zimbabweans who entered the country covertly were ”draining the resources” of Botswana.
The illegal immigrants have been blamed an upswing of crime in the country, including robberies, murders, rapes and petty theft. – Sapa-AFP