Zimbabwean nationals account for nearly half of all foreign workers legally employed in Botswana, according to the latest government data. A report by Statistics Botswana reveals that 49.4% of work permit holders in the second quarter of 2023—totaling 2,135 individuals—were from Zimbabwe, far outpacing other nationalities. The Indian Sub-Continent ranked a distant second at 11.1%, followed by other African nations at 10.7%.
The data, compiled in collaboration with the Department of Labour and Social Security, highlights Botswana’s reliance on Zimbabwean labor, particularly in key sectors like agriculture, which employs 28.8% of all foreign workers. Education (19.5%) and wholesale and retail trade (7.8%) also rely heavily on foreign labor, with Zimbabweans playing a significant role.
Men dominate the expatriate workforce, making up 68.9% of permit holders, compared to 31.1% for women. Most foreign workers are employed rather than self-employed, with 79% working for companies and 21% running their own businesses. The largest age group among permit holders is 40–44 years old (16.7%), followed closely by those aged 45–49 (15.7%) and 35–39 (15.4%).
Despite Zimbabweans leading in overall numbers, Indian Sub-Continent nationals are more likely to be self-employed, making up 27.3% of that category, compared to 17.1% for Zimbabweans. Chinese nationals also feature prominently among self-employed workers at 15.3%.
The report notes a recent decline in work permit numbers, dropping 11% from 4,851 in March 2023 to 4,319 by June. However, the long-term trend shows recovery from a sharp 40% decline between 2017 and 2021, with numbers rebounding by 27% since then.
