{{Botswana has reportedly intensified the deportation of Zimbabweans this year in what is being seen as an escalation of hostilities between the two neighbours.}}<\/p>\n
Botswana has sent back more than 135,000 Zimbabweans between January 2009 and July this year, mainly for lack of proper travel documents.<\/p>\n
A Zimbabwean immigration official said the deportations by Botswana had intensified this year.<\/p>\n
“Over the past four years the figures were gradually dropping but they are on the increase again,” Mr Nqobile Ncube, the assistant immigration officer-in-charge of the western region, said.<\/p>\n
“Our figures for this year are quite alarming as we have handled 15,392 deportees between January and July for the three border posts.<\/p>\n
“This is about 2,000 less than last year\u2019s annual figure of 17, 402.<\/p>\n
“We have realised this increase because Botswana seems reluctant to renew work permits for Zimbabweans.”<\/p>\n
The release of the figures came a week after Botswana controversially deported a 96-year-old Zimbabwean man who has lived in that country for 70 years. (Read: Outrage as Botswana deports frail Zim man)<\/p>\n
Mr Alfred Khumalo who was removed from a hospital bed in Bostwana after suffering a stroke has been admitted at a hospital in the border town of Plumtree as Zimbabwean authorities are still trying to establish if he has any relatives in the country.<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe\u2019s state media claimed the deportation was politically motivated.<\/p>\n
Botswana is the only Southern African country that initially refused to endorse President Robert Mugabe\u2019s re-election and called for an audit of the results of the July 31 elections.<\/p>\n
President Mugabe and his Botswana counterpart Ian Khama have in the past clashed over Harare\u2019s alleged poor human rights record.<\/p>\n
Zanu-PF also accused Botswana of sponsoring former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai\u2019s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) during the previous elections.<\/p>\n
Millions of Zimbabweans have sought refugee in neighbouring countries such as Botswana and South Africa since the southern African country started experiencing economic problems in 1997.<\/p>\n
The two countries regularly deport undocumented immigrants from Zimbabwe who immediately find their way back through illegal entry points.<\/p>\n
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