Story by Theophilus Chuma
THE Government is set to introduce the e-passport system at the Zimbabwean Embassy in Botswana during the first quarter of next year, a move expected to streamline consular services and improve efficiency for thousands of Zimbabweans living in the neighbouring country. Plans are also underway to extend operating hours at the Plumtree Border Post as part of broader efforts to ease mobility for the diaspora.
Vice President General (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga announced the measures during an engagement with Zimbabwean business leaders based in Gaborone, where he outlined the administration’s ongoing reforms to strengthen investment confidence and service delivery.
The meeting, held as part of continued outreach to diaspora communities, focused on enhancing the positive economic role played by Zimbabweans abroad. Remittances from the diaspora remain a vital source of national income, reaching US$1.9 billion between January and September 2024, a 16.5 percent rise from the same period last year.
Vice President Chiwenga said the upcoming e-passport deployment will significantly reduce processing times.
“I am glad to inform you that the government will install the E‑Passport System here at the Embassy in the first quarter of next year. This will mean that, as long as your documents are in order, you will now be able to apply for and collect your passports within seven working days. We are also collaborating with the Botswana government to transform the Plumtree Border Post into a one-stop post. In the interim, efforts are being made to extend the operating hours of the border post,” he said.
The Botswana diaspora community is a significant contributor to diaspora remittances.
Cumulatively, remittances from Zimbabweans living abroad reached US$1.9 billion between January and September 2024, marking a 16.5 percent increase compared to US$1.6 billion during the same period in 2023.
Vice President Chiwenga highlighted such potential calls for investment portfolios back home.
”We encourage you to form consortia aimed at investing in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, tourism, and real estate in line with your skill set and in recognition of the enabling environment the government has created in those sectors. The valuable skills you have acquired in your sojourns here in Botswana should be harnessed for the promotion of business enterprises in your homeland, particularly in the domain of value addition and beneficiation,” he noted.
The Vice President also outlined a raft of measures the government has undertaken to ease the business environment, including reviewing and relaxing laws on investment, reducing government expenditure, and reducing company registration fees, among others.
The executives described this meeting as highly constructive.
“It was highly engaging and very promising. We really look forward to the follow-through. It is great to have these kinds of forums. I honestly did not think it would last this long, but we were here for quite a long time, which shows there was a lot to be said and a lot to be answered. From here on, it is about action,” Botswana Tourism and Hospitality Executive, Ms Sihle Thabani Mpofu said.
“The commitment is really substantial. Surely, there are challenges here and there, like in any other country; that is understandable. I think all we need is to ensure that the issue of confidence is established,” Botswana Civil Engineering Consultant, Engineer Ignatius Gangaidzo added.
In line with the open for business mantra, the government is working to make progress to court both foreign and domestic investment to key sectors of national development.
