We do help in repatriating bodies - Gov’t
Larona Makhaiza | Monday December 18, 2023 06:00
The minister was responding to a question from Member of Parliament from Gaborone Bonnington South, Chris Greeff. He had asked among others if the minister is aware that there are many Batswana who died and were buried outside the country.
Kwape was quick to indicate that the government is very much aware of such cases where family members seek to repatriate their lost family members. Dr Kwape even stated that currently they are aware of only eight reported cases of Batswana who passed on and were buried in foreign countries. The minister insisted that families should always approach them to help repatriate the corpses.
“Botswana are assisted to repatriate deceased family members for proper burial in Botswana. It is important to note that the issue assisting families of a Motswana who dies abroad, is integral to the consular services provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
Consular service is help and advice provided by the diplomatic agents of a country to citizens of that country who are living or traveling to foreign countries.
Additionally the Minister stated that, “In this regard when a death is reported to the relevant Botswana diplomatic mission, the ministry engages the family of the deceased to provide the necessary support in line with the regulations of the foreign country,” he said. Kwape emphasized that his ministry only assists through its consular service assist with the repatriation of Botswana citizens who have died abroad whenever the deaths are reported to Botswana diplomatic missions.
Dr Kwape further revealed that the required necessities that family members who wish to be assisted to repatriate their family members should know of. “The following steps are undertaken when you wish to be assisted. The family would be required to appoint a local representative in the respective country to facilitate the repatriation of the body. In this regard depending on the country where the body is, these documents would be needed; passport of the deceased, death certificate from the mortuary, certificate of non- contagious (non-epidemic), infection the Physician, conveyance of dead bodies form, burial order from the family of the deceased advising that they authorize the repatriation of the body of their next of kin, embalming certificate from the mortuary and import/export permit from Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS),” he revealed.
In conclusion the Minister denoted that the government would always make it their priority that the matters are reported to them. “As previously stated, when Motswana dies abroad and the death is reported to the respective Botswana Diplomatic mission, the government will through the mission, provide necessary consular assistance. This includes informing and guiding on steps that need to be taken to facilitate the reburial of the deceased family members,” Kwape concluded.