US embassy cable - 04GABORONE2027

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, Zimbabwe 
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