Morapedi, W.G.(Routledge (Taylor and Francis) www.routledge.com, NaN, 2007)
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Abstract:
For the last two decades, Botswana has had a reputation as a ‘country of immigration’,
based on the large-scale import of skilled expatriates from Africa,
Asia, and the West. This policy has been accompanied by a general acceptance,
and even openness, on the part of Batswana towards non-citizens. In the late
1990s, however, these attitudes began to change, with intolerance towards
non-citizens growing in a country where it was unknown only a few years
earlier. (Crush 2003:1-2)
The underlying reason for the growth in intolerance seems to be related to actual
changes in immigration patterns in Botswana. The economic and political
problems in Zimbabwe in particular have led to a significant increase in unauthorised
migration to and through Botswana. The Botswana authorities have
become considerably more active in arresting and deporting unauthorised migrants.
Further adding to the visibility of the issue, the media and politicians
have begun to identify the presence of ‘illegal immigrants’ as a problem.