By Rungano Dzikira

The Botswana Government has dismissed misinformation peddling on  social news that Zimbabwean nationals were being forcibly, but instead corrected that their Government together with Zimbabwean authorities were assisting willing persons intending to come back home with repatriation.

In a statement, the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation dismissed the misinformation, “The assertion being made is completely inaccurate. The fact of the matter is that the recent repatriation exercise was undertaken jointly with the Government of Zimbabwe, following requests from Zimbabwean nationals who wanted to be assisted to return home amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the lockdown measures put in place.

“In the spirit of solidarity and the excellent relations between the two countries, on 16th April 2020, two hundred and fifty-five (255) Zimbabwean nationals were voluntarily repatriated from Botswana by road and received by Zimbabwean authorities at the Ramokgwebana Border Post,” it read.

The ministry also added that in appreciating the consequences of the lockdown on movement restrictions, none of the repatriated individuals was charged for breaching immigration rules.

They added that the two countries would continue to collaborate and coordinate voluntary repatriations when necessary, and further advised that the Government of Botswana is also working with other governments to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of their citizens from Botswana.