Stanley Libanda
Katima Mulilo, 27 July – The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and Security met the pressure group the Zambezi Lives Matter in Zambezi Region at Katima Mulilo.
The leader of the group, Charles Siyauya presented to the committee a detailed report on the activities of the group and a long list of grievances that were presented to the government in 2020 after the death of the Nchindo brothers.
Siyauya said the continued silence by the Namibian government towards the border treaty and the continued brutality Namibian citizens in the Zambezi region are subjected to must be condemned by all peace-loving citizens.
“The Zambezi Lives Matter is not calling for the Namibian government to go to war with Botswana, but an amicable solution must be found to stop the continued brutality by the Botswana defence force on residents of the Zambezi region in the pretence of being poachers,” he said.
He said the youngest Namibian killed by the Botswana Defence force was a nine-year-old from Lizauli.
“Where on earth can a nine-year-old poach?” Siyauya asked.
Former ambassador Benjamin Mabuku said there must be a mix-up of issues being raised by residents of the region, the legislature and the executive and this must stop as it affects the peace-loving citizens of Zambezi.
Muhanduzi Kakona said he was disappointed by the President’s question about how the fishermen were found in the Chobe river at night.
“That shows our leaders are not connected to the people and they don’t know simple activities like when people go fishing,” Kakona added.
Former education inspector Boniface Limbo echoed Siyauya’s sentiments that the residents want action not just sweeping issues under the carpet by the authorities.
“We want to be free in our own country, the NDF must be deployed at the borders and not in villages. We have other neighbours like Zambia and South Africa but we are living with them without any problems, unlike Botswana.
The former mayor Charles Matengu told the committee that no consultation was done before the signing of the treaty and it must be nullified.
He said people of Mahundu, Ngoma and other areas are living in fear as victimization and harassment by the Botswana defence force continues.
The chairperson of the standing committee, Leevi Katima, said he had learnt a lot since coming to the region on Monday.
“The concerns are genuine and the team is learning of some of the issues raised for the first time and the committee promises to attend to them and forward those that are not in their mandate to relevant authorities,” he said.
