Addressing residents in the border villages of Ramotswa and Tlokweng, Boko said Batswana continue to face difficulties when entering or leaving SA. He described the current system as unnecessarily punitive.

“People cross into SA for all sorts of reasons, and even if someone overstays by just one day, they’re banned from returning for a whole year. That’s not right,” he said.

Boko added that these concerns have already been raised with SA authorities and that both sides have agreed to address them. “We’ll be taking these matters forward at the upcoming Bi-National Commission,” he noted.

He stressed the need for travel regulations that are fair and supportive of the strong ties between the two countries. Botswana and SA share significant daily movement across their borders, with many people travelling for work, business, or family visits.

The call for reform is likely to resonate across the region, as many Southern Africans continue to push for more flexible and humane immigration policies within SADC.

--ChannelAfrica--