Hundreds march against BDF shootings

Zorena Jantze

CLOSE to five hundred Namibians today demonstrated against the brutal murders of three Namibian fishermen brothers, and their Zambian cousin, who were all gunned down by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) after they were allegedly mistaken for poachers while fishing late at night along the Chobe river.

The protestors, who mostly consisted of Namibians from the Zambezi Region, marched from the Zoo Park to the Embassy of Botswana and Parliament.

The march, which could only be described as emotionally charged, saw large numbers of the Namibian police force escorting family members of the deceased men, as well as sympathizers, as they sang songs in their native language, Sibuya.

They also chanted for the end of the Botswana military’s shoot-to-kill policy which was adopted in 2013 to curb poaching.

Handing in the petition to Botswana’s Commissioner to Namibia, Dr. Batlang Serema, the spokesperson of the Anti-BDF protesters, Joseph Masule, stated that they are gravely concerned about the silence of government and heads of state on the continued harassment, terrorizing and barbaric killings of unarmed Namibians by the military of Botswana along the two countries’ common border.

“What we have only seen on social media is your head of state’s concurrence with the remarks made by our head of state when he reportedly made a courtesy phone call to President, Mokgweetsi Masisi,” Masule said.

He added that to date, more than 37 lives have been lost at the merciless hands of the BDF.

The victims were mostly killed on Impalila island, along the Chobe river, all the way to Linyanti and Kwando rivers, as well as Lizauli.

“Are you aware that the BDF have on numerous occasions crossed the border, gathered Namibian villagers and addressed them by issuing stern warnings that they would lose their lives if they ever dare to move closer to the border rivers? Are you aware that our people’s fishnets and other fishing equipment have often been confiscated by BDF when found fishing in our shared natural heritage, our rivers?” said Masule.

He added that 13 November marks a complete week without an apology from Botswana’s government to the entire Namibian nation over the brutal murder of the four fishermen and the resultant death of their mother, who died from stress related conditions after learning about the deaths of her sons.

“We demand an immediate and unconditional apology from your head of state, Masisi, who disregards international protocols on the protection of innocent and unarmed civilians. As the current president of the SADC organ on security, we expect him to lead by example and walk his talk,” Masule noted.

The petition further demanded the immediate withdrawal of acts of aggression, killing and intimidation of Namibians who live along the stretch of the common borders in the Zambezi Region.

Masule further demanded the withdrawal of the draconian “Shoot to Kill Policy” and added that failure to meet and address all these demands with urgency will leave protestors no choice but to raise their demands to another unspecified regrettable level.

The group gave the Botswana high commissioner seven days to give feedback on the petition.

The march, however, came to a halt after protestors arrived at Parliament and demanded to hand over the petition to President Hage Geingob, who did not show up to receive it.

The protestors also refused to hand their petition over to executive director in the president’s private office, Moses Pakote, as well as the National Assembly’s secretary, Lydia Kandetu.

The protestors instead gave government 15 minutes to ensure president Geingob is there to receive the petition and failure to do so, threatened to take unspecified action.

The protestors, however, returned to the Zoo Park after the time ran out without handing over their petition.