HARARE, November 13 2008 - Botswana says Zimbabwe's political crisis is weighing down on its economy as it is spending close to 1,2 million Pulas on Zimbabwean refugees every month, RadioVOP can reveal.

A document compiled by the Botswana government on the refugee situation and seen by RadioVOP, quotes vice president Lieutenant General Mompati Merafe as having said that the political stalemate in Zimbabwe had led to increasing numbers of Zimbabweans seeking refuge in that country and was weighing down on its economy.
 
He indicated that starting 2005, Zimbabweans numbering 175 000 had been deported from that country and that Botswana had since constructed shelters to accommodate Zimbabwean refugees at the cost of 52 million Pulas.

He noted that since January this year, more than 12 000 Zimbabweans had been involved in crime in that country.

Morafe indicated that Botswana police had recorded an increase in crime over the comparative period mostly cable wire theft and cattle rustling.