Almost half of Botswana's new citizens since 2018 are Zimbabweans

Nearly 3,000 Zimbabweans have acquired Botswana citizenship since 2018, making them the largest group of foreign nationals to be naturalised in the neighbouring country over the past eight years.

Botswana's Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General (Retired) Pius Mokgware, revealed that 5,957 foreign nationals had been granted citizenship during the period, with Zimbabweans accounting for almost half of all successful applicants.

According to figures presented before the Ntlo ya Dikgosi (House of Chiefs), a total of 2,947 Zimbabweans acquired Botswana citizenship, representing approximately 49.5 percent of the total.

South Africans were the second-largest group, with 1,327 people granted citizenship, followed by Indians with 320, Zambians with 209 and Angolans with 142.

Other beneficiaries included 103 Malawians, 101 Basotho nationals, 66 citizens of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 64 Namibians, 62 Kenyans, 53 Pakistanis and 50 British nationals.

The statistics were disclosed in response to a question raised by Kgosi Khama IV of Ga-Mmangwato, who sought clarification on the number of foreigners granted Botswana citizenship between 2018 and 2026.

Mokgware revealed that most of the successful applicants had acquired citizenship through marriage to Botswana nationals.

Zimbabweans and South Africans together accounted for 4,274 citizenship grants, representing approximately 72 percent of the total approvals during the period.

The figures highlight the strong migration and family ties between Botswana and its southern African neighbours, particularly Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Botswana has long been a destination for Zimbabweans seeking employment, business opportunities and family reunification, with the two countries sharing extensive economic, social and cultural connections.

The latest statistics also demonstrate the significant role marriage plays in providing pathways to citizenship for foreign nationals who have established permanent family relationships in Botswana.

However, the figures do not indicate how many citizenship applications were rejected or remain pending, making it difficult to determine the overall approval rate.

The disclosure, reported by Dikgang, provides fresh insight into Botswana's citizenship trends and the nationalities most represented among foreigners who have successfully obtained citizenship since 2018.