Zimbabweans emerge as biggest beneficiaries of Botswana citizenship

Zimbabweans have emerged as the largest group of foreign nationals granted Botswana citizenship since 2018, accounting for almost half of the successful applicants.

A total of 2 947 Zimbabweans acquired Botswana citizenship during the period, significantly ahead of South Africans, who recorded 1 327 successful applicants.

The figures were disclosed by Botswana’s Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General (Rtd) Pius Mokgware, in a parliamentary response to a question from Kgosi Khama IV of Ga-Mmangwato.

According to the minister, Botswana granted citizenship to 5 957 foreign nationals between 2018 and the period covered by the parliamentary question.

Zimbabweans dominate Botswana citizenship figures

Zimbabweans accounted for approximately 49.5% of all successful foreign applicants, while South Africans represented about 22.3%.

India was the third-largest nationality group, with 320 people acquiring Botswana citizenship, followed by Zambia with 209 and Angola with 142.

Other nationalities included Malawi (103), Lesotho (101), the Democratic Republic of Congo (66), Namibia (64), Kenya (62), Pakistan (53) and Britain (50).

Combined, Zimbabweans and South Africans accounted for 4 274 of the 5 957 citizenship grants, representing approximately 71.7% of the total.

The figures highlight the significant presence of nationals from Botswana’s two southern African neighbours among those who have acquired citizenship.

Marriage accounts for most citizenship acquisitions

Mokgware indicated that most of the citizenship acquisitions during the period were through marriage.

Botswana’s Citizenship Act provides for foreign spouses of citizens to apply for citizenship after meeting specified residency requirements.

In August 2025, the government-owned DailyNews reported that Mokgware had told Parliament that foreign spouses generally needed to have lived in Botswana for at least five years before qualifying for citizenship.

However, the minister also indicated that the residency requirement could be waived or reduced under special circumstances.

Applicants are also assessed by a Citizenship Committee and must satisfy requirements set out under the law.

The latest figures provide an indication of the number of Zimbabweans who have successfully acquired citizenship in Botswana over the years, although the parliamentary response did not provide a breakdown of how many Zimbabweans obtained it through marriage.