Botswana: Govt finally accepts Batswana of Angolan descent
Published: 1/Jun/2021
Source: The Voice (Gaborone)
By Francinah Baaitse Mmana
For the past eight years, scores of Ngamilanders of Angolan descent became undocumented and stateless when their national Identity cards (Omang) were revoked by the Botswana government.
Some were referred to as refugees in the only country they know to be theirs and reduced to paupers as without Omang, one cannot get employment or enjoy free services including health, land, and education let alone access financial and banking services unless they complete the renunciation process.
However, last month brought a sigh of relief to these masses when the government pronounced that those born in Botswana before 30th December 1982 would no longer be subjected to such an immigration ordeal. Those born after 30 December 1982 would not be required to renounce citizenship unless they hold dual citizenship.
In fact, the government admitted that the Immigration Act of 1998 gave people born in Botswana the right to be citizens by birth.
Read further: https://news.thevoicebw.com/2021/06/govt-finally-accepts-batswana-of-angolan-descent/