Botswana Responds To Reports Saying It's Deporting Zimbabweans To Curb Spread Of Coronavirus

The government of Botswana has dismissed as inaccurate social media reports which suggest that it was forcefully deporting Zimbabweans.

In a statement, Botswana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the recent repatriation of Zimbabweans was a joint venture between Botswana and Zimbabwe. Part of the statement reads:

The Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation notes with deep concern the misinformation and distorted reports on social media platforms purporting that the Government of Botswana has embarked on forceful deportation of Zimbabwean nationals.

The assertion being made is completely inaccurate and 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.

The statement is issued following the arrival of 255 Zimbabweans on Thursday last week from Botswana through Ramokgwebana Border Post.

Botswana says that those who returned opted to come back to Zimbabwe as the national lockdown in that country has made their stay difficulty.

More: The Chronicle