Elezo Libanda
Katima Mulilo, Aug. 18 — The Governor of the Zambezi region Lawrence Sampofu has expressed disappointment at the government’s failure to act on the ill-treatment of Namibian citizens living along the common border by the Botswana defence force.
Sampofu asked the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources that was on a working visit to the region on the status between Namibia and Botswana.
He expressed disappointment that the BDF’s shoot-to-kill policy is aimed at anyone found crossing the river for fishing or other livelihood activities.
The governor was also not happy that the BDF uses every strategy to prevent free-roaming wild animals from interring Namibia.
There have been reports recently that BDF helicopters and other small aircraft from Botswana have been spotted flying on the Namibia side of the border, turning animals back into Botswana.
Villagers living along the Chobe river have applauded the Sampofu for being the first regional leader to openly condemn the behaviour of the BDF.
A fisherman at Ngoma, who preferred only to be identified as Katukula expressed happiness about Sampofu’s stance.
“We need leaders who can stand with their people even when their masters are not, we will not forget people who shunned us when we needed them most,” said Katukula referring to the statement by a statehouse spokesperson that described the demonstrations organized by the Zambezi Lives Matter pressure group as pointless.
Namibia is the new chair of the SADC organ on politics, defence and security cooperation, and Namibians expect the government to use the opportunity to stop the killing of innocent people along the Chobe river.
