World Refugee Day Speech 2023

THEME: “HOPE AWAY FROM HOME, A WORLD WHERE

REFUGEES ARE ALWAYS INCLUDED”.

I greet you all and thank you on behalf of the refugee

community in Botswana for coming to commemorate with us
this very important day.

Today, the 20th of June is a day set aside by United Nations

globally, in order to give us a chance to commemorate the
plight of refugees and asylum seekers who fled and continue to
flee from the comfort of their homes and country of origin on
account of war, insecurity and persecution to seek asylum in
different countries.

Directors of ceremony, ladies and gentlemen, this day

offers us an opportunity to reflect on the challenges
experienced by refugees and asylum seekers in the whole
world who sometimes travel under harsh and difficult
circumstances to reach the safety zones. As this year’s theme
reads, “HOPE AWAY FROM HOME, A WORLD WHERE
REFUGEES ARE ALWAYS INCLUDED” we would like to
extend our heartly gratitude to the government of Botswana
for hosting us in this peaceful country. By doing so our lost and
shattered hopes are revived. After losing everything and our
loved ones we became hopeless. There are conflicts in different
countries in the world and it is a clear sign that the problems of
refugees still exist. The International community should take
note that the movements of refugees from one country to
another is far from over.
Directors of ceremony, distinguished guests and fellow
refugees- To this end as a refugee community we would like
to appreciate the government of Botswana for providing
essential social services such as security, health, basic
education and shelter. We would like to thank the UNHCR for
its tireless efforts to feed and clothe the refugees. We also
appreciate various organizations such as churches, individuals
that complement the efforts of the government and UNHCR in
supporting the refugee community. May the Lord continue to
bless the hand that giveth.
Honorable Minister, during last year’s refugee day
commemorations and on the 21st of September we requested a
number of interventions from your government, we are still
waiting for a favorable response, we hope today we will receive
good news.

Directors of ceremony, ladies and gentlemen- We note

with appreciation the great strides the government of
Botswana is taking towards considering the local intergration of
refugees. We request your government to consider reviewing
the refugee act. We hope that the relaxation of the law on
refugee restrictions of movement and employment will give us
a chance to operate to our full capacities without any
hinderances. We need to be self-reliant and ease our provider’s
burden and responsibility of taking care of our families. We also
kindly ask the government of Botswana to review the
timeframe from the time one applies for asylum to the time of
Refugee Advisory Committee (RAC) interviews and the time of
waiting for the results after the interviews. The delays are
causing a lot of problems to asylum seekers for they do not fit
anywhere in refugee programs as they wouldn’t be having
proper documentation.

Director of ceremony,distinguished guests,ladies and

gentlemen-Honorable Minister, I once again raised the issue
of students who are doing exceptionally well academically and
wish to go outside the country on scholarships to further their
studies but their environment does not allow them to go any
further. Their dreams can only come true if your honorable
office considers giving them the permission and provide them
with proper travel documents. We also request that those who
do not score the points that enables them to be enrolled in
universities and colleges be enrolled in nearby government
vocational institutions such as Mosetse ,Marobela and Tutume
brigades. We would be highly grateful if this matter is given an
urgent solution which will come as a rescue to our children who
are literally idling in the camp, as it is said that an idle mind is
the devil’s workshop.

Directors of ceremony, ladies and gentlemen- Honorable

Minister currently the majority of refugees are from the
countries which they can’t return to. We wish there could be an
increase of the quota for local intergration. My apologies
Honorable Minister, I know that the government has nothing to
do with resettlement program but allow me to take advantage
of the UNHCR representative’ s presence to ask if there could
be an increase of quota for resettlement program. We
understand that it’s a process not an event, but we kindly plead
with you to find ways of solving this challenge and have us find
closure.
Director of ceremony, distinguished guests and fellow
refugees- I would like to speak to my community. This is a
concern from us as your community leaders that some
refugees and asylum seekers are leaving the camp without exit
permits, some are staying outside the camp illegally. There is
no one who have asked for the exit permit and was not given,
why then are we deliberately breaking the refugee laws? Our
police have recorded so many crimes like theft and unlawful
vandalism of our houses in the camp, we must never bite the
hand that feeds us. Ladies and gentlemen let us respect our
partners and live in peace. As a community let us refrain from
Gender Based Violence (GBV). I stand here asking you to take
healthy programs that are offered by the clinic, for it is for our
own good.
Most of us are parents and we have responsibilities to fulfill
such as encouraging our children to take their studies seriously
and always grab any productive opportunity that comes their
way. We must take good care of our children and instill good
values in them as they are our future leaders. As a community
we have to be creative and productive, we have life skills let us
use them for the betterment of our lives and community. We
must always clean our camp so that we live in a clean and
healthy environment. Lastly, I urge you to respect and abide by
the laws of our host country for as long as we reside within the
borders of this democratic country.

Directors of ceremony, distinguished guests, ladies and

gentlemen - In conclusion we would like to thank the
government of Botswana as a signatory to the UN agreement
for protecting and promoting the rights of refugees and asylum
seekers. For giving us peaceful homes away from our homes,
families away from our blood relations, we will forever be
grateful to Batswana and this peace-loving nation. Muntu ngu
muntu nga bantu. We wish you all a safe journey back to your
respective homes.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Refugee Welfare Chairperson: Patience Takaona signed

Refugee Welfare Secretary : Kabongo Bongwa signed