Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs Press Release - Botswana Passports

source: Republic of Botswana (28/9/08): TAUTONA TIMES no 29 of 2008
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President "Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

C8) 25/9/08: MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND HOME AFFAIRS PRESS RELEASE – BOTSWANA PASSPORTS

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs wishes to inform the public about the new developments adopted by the Government concerning the protection of the integrity of Botswana Passports. In view of the current security risks posed by illegal ownership of Botswana Passports by non citizens the Ministry is continuously putting stringent measures in place to protect this important national document. It is unfortunate and regrettable that such measures will inconvenience law abiding citizens.

Further to the statement released by the Ministry on the 12 September 2008 on measures being put in place to improve the security of Botswana passport, the following have been adopted as well:

1. The Ministry will no longer issue students with passports for purposes of confirmation of age in sporting activities. Such confirmations will have to be done using Birth Certificates. Parents are therefore encouraged to register and collect Birth Certificates for their children for identification purposes.

2. Citizens who lose their passports will not be issued with replacements in less than a year on average. The replacement cost of a lost passport will be up to P1000.00.

3. The Emergency Travel Document will continue to be issued in the normal process at all Immigration offices at a cost of P10.00.

4. Members of the public are to note that a Passport is a travelling document and it is used solely for purposes of travelling. The expectation is that all citizens have National Identity Cards and Birth Certificates for identification purposes.

All these new developments are effective 1st November 2008.- Segakweng Tsiane, Permanent Secretary