GABORONE, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Bus terminals in Botswana's two major cities of Gaborone and Francistown were on Tuesday bustling with people heading home for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Tariro Mverechena, a Zimbabwean migrant, was among those heading home after a year at work in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. This is the only opportunity for her to go and reunite with her family in a year, said Mverechena in an interview with Xinhua at the Gaborone Bus Rank.
"I am so very happy," said Mverechena, adding that she would only return to work in January 2025, giving her plenty of time to be with her family and children.
For Adam Moyo, it would take him up to three days to Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, due to unexpected delays at Ramokgwebana Border Post in northeastern Botswana, caused by long queues of people and vehicles.
It was against this backdrop that he started his trip on Tuesday from Ghanzi in western Botswana so as to reach home on Thursday -- just a day after Christmas Day.
"I am going home to see my family and my people. Thank you, Botswana. I am going home. I will be back soon," said Moyo, as he embarked on another bus heading to Harare at the Francistown Bus Rank in Botswana's second-largest city.
Nelson Banda, a Malawian primary school teacher working in Francistown, was also at the Francistown Bus Rank on Tuesday, heading to Lilongwe, Malawi's capital.
"I am very happy because I managed to travel this time. I failed to return to Lilongwe last year because I was still recovering financially from the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic," said Banda.
However, not all migrants are returning home for the festive season. Mozambican national Adriano Nalingo was at the Gaborone Bus Rank, but just to send a small bag of food to his mother in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique.
"I am afraid of going home due to the ongoing post-election unrest. I will go next year," said Nalingo, referring to the current wave of unrest following the disputed Oct. 9 elections.
Earlier this week, the Constitutional Council of Mozambique confirmed Daniel Chapo as the next president, with the Frelimo candidate winning 65 percent of the vote and Venancio Mondlane, his main challenger, garnering 24 percent.
"It is a bit too risky to go home this time around," said Nalingo, adding that it is better to remain in Botswana.
Botswana also held elections on Oct. 30 and saw the former ruling Botswana Democratic Party accepting defeat and handing over power to the Umbrella for Democratic Change led by President Duma Boko.
Nigerian national Victor Akinyemi cannot take a bus to his hometown in Abuja, so he chose to fly back, with a return ticket from Gaborone to Abuja costing around 845 U.S. dollars.
He has spent the whole year preparing for this trip. "It is quite a good thing to celebrate this Christmas time with family," he said while waiting to take off from Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone.
Once the festive season is over, the stressful journey back to Botswana will begin for these migrants, but that is an issue they are prepared to put aside for another day.
