Responding to a statement made in the National Assembly by
Labour and Home Affairs minister Annah Mokgethi, Members of Parliament from
both ends thrashed the proposed arrangement, which would see citizens of both
countries use national identity cards instead of passports at entry points.
Botswana already has a similar arrangement with Namibia and
is now looking to tie a similar deal with Zimbabwe.
But while the Namibian arrangement, which came into effect
in February, faced no opposition, legislators told Mokgethi that’s they don't agree with the government's move
on Zimbabwe.
Earlier this month, while in Gaborone, President, Emmerson
Mnangagwa announced he had reached an agreement with his Botswana counterpart,
Mokgweetsi Masisi to abolish the use of passports at entry points.
But due to public backlash, Mokgethi was forced to read a
statement in Parliament, arguing the agreement was not yet in place.
It read in part, “… I wish to make this statement to
clarify and to set the record straight that there is no signed agreement to
effect this initiative.
“Given this background Batswana are assured that by a
concept being appreciated by the two leadership does not mean the people of the
two countries can now use their IDs to cross into their countries.
“There are processes and procedures to be undertaken to
ensure and qualify validity of all necessary requirements for travel, locally,
regionally, and internationally before implantation can take place.
“Most importantly upon adoption of acceptance of regulatory
standards, the two countries will enter into a memorandum of agreement that has
clauses including cancellation or exit in the event, concerns of violation
arise during implementation.”
The leader of opposition
Dithapelo Keorapetse said it was surprising that the deal was announced
without due consultations.
“We don't know who President Masisi was representing when
he reached this agreement with Mnangagwa or the government of Zimbabwe,”
Keorapetse said.
Francistown MP Wynter Mmolotsi said it would not be ideal
to allow the arrangement to proceed as the country, in particular, areas closer
to the border, were already bearing the brunt of the influx of Zimbabweans.
“The health system in Francistown is already overburdened
by Zimbabweans,” Mmolotsi said.
“Some come here to illegally mine gold. If we open up,
without even knowing it, we will have more Zimbabweans than the entire
Francistown population.”
Some MPs like Unity Douw wondered how the use of
machine-readable identity cards will not be as cumbersome as the use of
passports.
The cost of obtaining a passport in Zimbabwe is prohibitive
and some are forced to skip the border driven from their homeland by scarce job
opportunities.
Some MPs said they would rather have other countries like
South Africa and Zambia negotiate a passport-free travel arrangement ahead of
Zimbabwe. —VOA
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