Niël Terblanché
CALLS for the nations of Namibia and Botswana to remain calm came in the midst of complaints by residents of Impalila Island that helicopters from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) have been harassing them sporadically since the death of four fishermen last week.
In a statement issued by Botswana’s Permanent Secretary Government Communications, Andrew Sesinyi said that President Mokgweetsi Masisi has appealed to the people of both countries to remain calm while investigations into the deaths of Tommy Nchindo, Wamunyima Nchindo, Martin Nchindo, and their cousin Sinvula Munyeme that were allegedly killed by soldiers of the (BDF) while they were fishing in the southern channel of the Chobe River near Kasane last Thursday night are in progress.
In the statement, Sesinyi said that the Office of President Masisi wishes to acknowledge the contents of the recent media statement published by the Government of the Republic of Namibia pertaining to the fatal shooting of four Namibian nationals from the same family on 5 November 2020 during an anti-poaching activity by the Botswana Defence Force.
“Dr. Masisi has been in direct contact with President Hage Geingob and extended his sincere condolences to the bereaved family and the Namibian Nation,” he said.
Sesinyi said that with the excellent and ever deepening bilateral relations between Namibian and Botswana in mid, the two heads of state have expressed their full commitment to resolve the issue in an expeditious and amicable manner.
He said that to this effect, and in the spirit of good neighbourliness, the two governments have agreed to undertake a joint investigation with the view to determine and address the circumstances that resulted in the incident.
“Both presidents assured the bereaved family, the respective nations of the two countries that the incident is receiving the utmost attention it deserves from the relevant authorities in both countries,” he said.
In the meantime Linyanti Constituency Councilor, Cletius Sipapela said that he received reports that BDF helicopters were spotted flying low over Namibian territory at Swangwali and Kapani
Zambezi Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner, Evans Simasiku, confirmed receiving reports about the BDF helicopters harassing people on the Namibian side of the border.
