DOMESTIC CONCERN OVER ZIMBABWE SIMMERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GABORONE 002027

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S DIFFILY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV BC
SUBJECT: DOMESTIC CONCERN OVER ZIMBABWE SIMMERS

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH HUGGINS REASONS 1.5 (B) & (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: The perception of adverse impact on
Botswana of the situation in neighboring Zimbabwe is steadily
growing. Debate over what the Government should do to
mitigate the costs to the country continues to simmer.
During National Assembly debates following President Mogae's
November 8 State of the Nation address, parliamentarians
highlighted the need for the Government to curb illegal
immigration. The press generates a steady stream of stories
about the disruption caused by some illegal immigrants from
Zimbabwe, including violent crime and cattle rustling. In
response to these and other challenges, the GOB is
considering a nationwide operation to round up illegal
immigrants from Zimbabwe. If this plan materializes,
Botswana could encounter international criticism for
returning border jumpers to an uncertain future in Zimbabwe.
END SUMMARY

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CALLS FOR GOB TO DO MORE
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2. (U) During parliamentary debates following President
Mogae's November 8 State of the Nation address, growing costs
of illegal immigration from Zimbabwe emerged as an important
concern. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party's (BDP) MP for
Tonota South, near Francistown, Pono Moatlhodi, called on the
National Assembly to explore ways to curb the influx of
illegal immigrants. He blamed Zimbabwean border jumpers for
the increased incidence of crime in Botswana. Specially
elected MP Botsalo Ntuane, also of the BDP, called for fresh
efforts within the region "to deal with the core issues of
governance and an enabling political situation in Zimbabwe"
in order to avoid further negative spill-over effects for its
neighbors.

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PERCEIVED COSTS TO BOTSWANA GROWING
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3. (U) Augmenting the general perception that illegal
immigration from Zimbabwe has caused an increase in crime,
recent newspaper accounts referred to allegations of cattle
rustling across the border and incidences of violent
conflicts in Francistown between supporters of Zimbabwe's
opposition Movement for Democratic Change and the ZANU-PF by
illegal Zimbabwean migrants. While police officials have
reportedly dismissed claims of battles between Zimbabwean
partisans in Botswana, they have called for government
support to check stock theft. The public in Botswana is not
vocal about the situation in Zimbabwe but they increasingly
view as negative the impact of illegal migration from
Zimbabwe on Botswana.

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ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ROUND-UP IN THE OFFING?
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4. (C) During a November 23 courtesy call, the new Minister
for Labor and Home Affairs Moeng Pheto highlighted for the
Ambassador the economic and administrative problems
associated with illegal immigration from Zimbabwe. He
observed that such migrants had spread throughout the
country, taking jobs far below the legal minimum wage,
thereby exacerbating the problem of unemployment for
Batswana. Overcrowding in Botswana's prisons, which he
estimated to be at 1,500 to 2,500 above the total capacity of
3,500, derived in part from the holding of Zimbabweans, he
claimed. According to Minister Pheto, the GOB is considering
a nation-wide "sweep" operation to round up Zimbabweans who
are in Botswana illegally. Plans along these lines had been
stalled, he explained, by the absence of sufficient space in
which to hold would-be detainees. He added that efforts are
underway to set up such facilities, which might include the
use of tents at existing prisons.

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COMMENT
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5. (C) While the spillover effect from the situation in
Zimbabwe has not yet reached a crisis point in Botswana,
pressure is steadily growing on the GOB to take more
effective measures to mitigate negative impacts. More
assertive action by the GOB in support of a democratic
transition in Zimbabwe is unlikely but new measures to
control border jumping and the problems it creates are
probably forthcoming. While it is unclear how many of these
border jumpers back the MDC, and considering the ongoing food
crisis in Zimbabwe, Botswana risks international criticism
for returning them to an uncertain future in Zimbabwe.
HUGGINS