Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


On Edge of Starvation, Hundreds of Zimbabweans in Botswana Want to Go Home

Mqondisi Dube

   GABORONE - Hundreds of Zimbabweans living in Botswana are applying for
   a trip home, saying the COVID-19 crisis has left them on the edge of
   starvation. The immigrants usually survive by doing odd jobs, but with
   Botswana in a lockdown due the coronavirus, they cannot find work to
   support themselves.

   Additionally, the immigrants were initially excluded from the Botswana
   government's food parcels.

   "We are in a bad state," said Josephine Mutsaka, 54, one of many
   Zimbabwean illegal immigrants in Gaborone. "We have no food at the
   moment, and the only option is to go back home. When we are in
   Botswana, we survive through 'piece jobs' but that has stopped because
   of the lockdown. We can't blame the Botswana government for giving
   priority to its citizens."

   Botswana's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Unity Dow, told local media
   that officials are discussing how to address the plight of immigrants.

.