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108. The number of refugees in Botswana increased substantially during 1978, with the arrival of over 25,300 Zimbabweans. However, as a result of departures, at the end of the year the total number of refugees in the country was estimated at only 18,600, of whom 95 per cent were Zimbabweans and the remainder mostly from South Africa.
109. In Lesotho the number of registered refugees was 187 at the end of 1978. In the course of the year, 104 refugees arrived from countries in southern Africa and 52 left for resettlement elsewhere. In addition to the registered caseload there was a large number of unregistered South African refugee students who were enrolled in educational institutions.
110. In Swaziland a total of 739 new refugees were registered in 1978, whilst 103 refugees departed to other African countries. At the end of the year the caseload stood at some 700 persons. There were also several thousand unregistered South African refugee students who had gained admission to schools.
111. UNHCR action to assist refugee students was included in the Secretary-General's report on assistance to South African refugee students (document A/33/163). In Botswana, during the period under review, the construction of a student hostel at the University College was completed, and funds were provided towards the construction and equipment of a junior and a secondary school. The Educational Resource Centre, located at Gaborone, staffed and administered by the Mennonite Central Committee, provides correspondence courses and tuition at the lower secondary level for some 200 refugee students who cannot be immediately integrated into the national education system. The improvements to the transit centre at Francistown were completed and additional vehicles were provided there and for the centre at Selebi-Pikwe. UNICEF shared the cost of 110 tents for these 2 centres. Also in Botswana, funds were provided for the construction and equipment of 90 low-cost houses at Selebi-Pikwe and for rent subsidies. In the face of the increasing number of Zimbabwean arrivals, the Government of Botswana decided to establish, with UNHCR assistance, a settlement at Dukwe, with a planned capacity of approximately 20,000 persons. By the end of 1978 the population there was more than 8,000.
112. In Lesotho, the 1977 project for the expansion of secondary schools was increased to cover nine schools.
113. In Swaziland, the completion of the transit centre (to hold 60 people) and secondary school (200 places) at Mpaka, scheduled for the first part of 1979, was delayed by extensive storm damage. The Thokoza school, run by the Mennonite Central Committee, and for which UNHCR provides funds, catered for some 60 refugee students at the end of 1978. With the completion of the centre at Mpaka, students continuing their studies will be transferred there.
114. Other assistance measures in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland included care and maintenance costs, counselling, travel costs to enable refugees to benefit from educational opportunities in other countries, scholarships, supplementary aid and local settlement assistanco. UNHCR opened offices in Lesotho and Swaziland.
115. A total of over $10,069,000 was expended by UNHCR in Botswana (over $8,050,000), Lesotho (over $734,700) and Swaziland ($1,234,200) in 1978: $2,550,800 under General Programmes and $7,518,700 under S ecial Programmes.