Africa-Press – Botswana. The community of Kaudwane has called for the end of injustice they have endured since relocation from their ancestral land.
During an inter-ministerial committee consultation meeting held in Kaudwane recently, many community members stated that the relocation had perpetuated marginalisation of Basarwa. They stated that they were informed that they resided in a wildlife management area and could therefore not be allocated land for farming and boreholes in Kaudwane, yet there were some boreholes owned by individuals who not from Kaudwane.
They also accused the government of failing to fulfill the commitments made when relocating the Basarwa from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). They expressed that everything promised by the government had turned out to be an illusion up to this point, and the government has brought more suffering than benefits from their relocation from the CKGR.
Mr George Pihelo, who was the first to take to the podium, called for a review of the Constitution to acknowledge the Basarwa, stating that they had suffered oppression for an extended period. He cited the case of Mr Pitseng Gaoberekwe, who remained in the mortuary for years, as clear evidence of how the previous administration disregarded the rights of the Basarwa.
He insisted that the government had failed to fulfill the promises made during their relocation from their ancestral land. He stated that they should be returned to the CKGR, emphasising their desire to be buried there.
Ms Kebatshabile Moloreng warned the commission to deliver their recommendations as soon as possible, failing which they would take their property and return to the CKGR on their own. She noted that the Basarwa community suffered greatly from a lack of employment, highlighting that even graduates from tertiary institutions remained unemployed. She stated that the government had failed to fulfill the promises made during their relocation, and they are having difficulty accessing basic services from the government.
Ms Kebafilwe Sebopego shared that their relocation was poorly managed, resulting in the loss of their belongings, including livestock, during the process. He remarked that living in Kaudwane felt akin to living in hell or being imprisoned.
Mr Bompone Chelete said the land board said they could not be allocated land for farming because they were living in a wildlife management area. Mr Thobokwe Selelabongwaka, who called for a constitutional review, requested relocation back to the CKGR and the provision of farms within that area.
Mr Pogiso Ithuteng stated that they were not allocated land for farming due to their designation within a wildlife management area. Ms Gabaakelwe Pihelo noted that the affirmative action frameworks have not benefited the Basarwa people.
Mr Keotshabetse Ithuteng expressed a desire to return to the CKGR to enjoy their freedom, saying that Kaudwane lacks land for cultivation. He suggested that essential services, such as schools, should be established in the CKGR. Mr Gaboemelwe Ramaeba emphasised that the Basarwa are aware of their heritage and can guide the government in this regard.
However, he cautioned that the relocation process to the CKGR should be handled carefully to avoid further complications. Concerning special hunting permits, he argued that they should be granted to Basarwa, but only under specific conditions.
He lamented that unlike in the past, many people now hunt for commercial reasons rather than for sustenance. He also requested the allocation of borehole points in Kaudwane and the repair of the CKGR fence to protect their livestock from predators, while waiting for a sustainable solution. He said there are some borehole owned by individuals who do not reside in Kaudwane.
The area councilor, Mr Solly Phetogo highlighted the need for health services in Kaudwane. Earlier, the commission’s representative who is the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Kgakagamalo Ketshajwang, noted that in previous consultative meetings it emerged that the rights of the Basarwa, particularly those of children, were neglected.
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