Communities in Zambezi along the Chobe, Kwando and Linyanti rivers live in constant fear for their lives and have lost their sense of national security due to intimidation by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF).

This has affected their lives and livelihoods as there has been a significant reduction in fishing and animal grazing activities because most communities are scared to carry on with economic activities to make ends meet.

This is according to a dossier by the National Council (NC)’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Security, Constitutional and Legal Affairs which was tabled on Tuesday.

The committee held 23 public meetings and received 32 written submissions from communities in Zambezi between 20 September and 06 October this year.

Tourism activities in that part of the country are also under siege.

“The tourism activities have been severely affected as tour guards face constant questioning and aggression from BDF members in the presence of tourists,” reads a part of the report.

The report goes into intricate detail on how the lives of those living along the river in Zambezi are engulfed by fear, following the deaths of at least 30 Namibians at the hands of the BDF.

NCHINDO BROTHERS

The report was motivated by inter-alia, the killing of four alleged Namibian poachers by BDF soldiers in November 2020, including claims that the victims were unarmed fishermen and one may have been executed after he was arrested.

In the said incident, Tommy Nchindo, Simvula Munyeme and Ernest Wamunyima Nchindo were shot in the chest and died instantly in their canoes, while Martin Nchindo was sprayed with bullets when he tried to swim to safety.

“The Nchindo brothers in the Kasika/Impalila areas were found fishing on the Namibian side of the river and were taken across to Botswana where they were eventually murdered.”

The scenario of arresting Namibians from Namibia and taking them into Botswana has now come to be known as abduction, extra rendition, extraterritorial and extra judiciary.

“The residents in the target areas need protection against the aggression of a foreign army. The BDF cases of aggression were a common trend from Namibia’s Impalila Island to the marshes and grasslands of the Lizauli District along the Kwando River,” the report states.

Primarily, fishermen, cattle-herders, grass mowers, tourism operators and subsistence farmers have fallen prey to BDF’s aggression.

“The acts of harassment entailed the BDF telling Namibian fishermen to abandon their nets and their catch. It comprised of demanding grass and reed mowers to vacate areas that were traditionally known to be theirs,” reads another section.

BENDING OVER

What is further peculiar, according to the committee, is BDF’s constant harassment of Namibians, in Namibia, with impunity.

The committee paints an abnormal situation.

“The BDF crossed the Chobe to the Namibian side of the river at will, but Namibians would not be allowed to do the same… the BDF soldiers pointed guns at individuals fishing, cultivating, mowing grass/reeds and tending to cattle on the Namibian side of the river and demanded them to go into Botswana.”

“Fearing to be shot and killed, these innocent Namibian citizens would heed the call and then head to Botswana. Upon setting foot on the banks of the river in Botswana, those would then be accused of crossing the river illegally.”

It continues, “These helpless Namibians would not be allowed to say anything in their own defence against the merciless soldiers. They would then be bundled into the back of military vehicles and ferried away into BDF camps in Botswana.”

TEACHER, LEARNERS & BDF

It goes beyond this as the acts of aggression by BDF saw 70 Namibians arrested from Situngu Island, among them expectant mothers and children.

In a separate incident, learners and teachers at Nakabolelwa Combined School near the river awoke to BDF helicopters hovering in the skies above the school.

“The fear of war is forever lingering in the minds of teachers at Nakabolelwa Combined School as they fear cross border skirmishes of war similar to the ones of 1981 could erupt.”

LOST ISLANDS

While the government has placed on record that communities in Zambezi were widely consulted about the Boundary Treaty of 2018, which saw Namibia lose some of its territories to Botswana, the situation on the ground, according to the committee paints a different picture.

The islands that are now annexed as Botswana territory as part of the controversial treaty are Shingabali Mwanahatsiye, Kaqharu, Lyanombe, Zizira, Mawunga Hamunguro and Txidamu.

“All these islands were lost to Botswana without the knowledge and consent of the inhabitants from the Maalenganga and Sangwali areas. These islands, according to witnesses, are home to different species including rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, impalas and other species that could have contributed positively to the Namibian economy through tourism,” it further found.

DIVIDE & CONQUER

This treaty has caused pandemonium in the region.

The traditional authorities have condemned the treaty.

Traditional leaders issued a stern warning to the government: “We urge the government to stop using our sons and daughters [in government/Cabinet] who serve at the pleasure of government, who are careless about our people and are busy working against us. We condemn this divide and rule tendency used by government against our people.”

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Structural inequalities should be addressed urgently to address HIV prevention: Gawanas

Windhoek Mayor Sade Gawanas has said structural inequalities in society should be addressed urgently in order for HIV prevention and treatment to be addressed.

Gawanas made these remarks on Tuesday during the commemoration of World AIDS Day in Windhoek.

She said HIV is still threatening the world and this can be attributed to structural inequalities that obstruct proven solutions to HIV prevention and treatment. In order to realise the vision of ending AIDS in Namibia by 2030, there is an urgent need to end economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities in society, Gawanas stated.

“Equally, with the outbreak of COVID-19 people have found themselves to be vulnerable due to loss of income because of loss of work or other economic restrictions imposed to contain the pandemic,” said Gawanas.

The mayor added that the continued financial and technical support of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has been helpful in fighting the pandemic in Namibia.

“The hosting of this event today is also clear testimony of the political will and commitment of the city council in close collaboration with UNAIDS, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Khomas Regional Council, MenEngage Namibia Network, Namibia Red Cross Society, and all other key partners, to the response to HIV and AIDS in Windhoek, as part of our social and sectoral responsibility,” stated Gawanas.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency