‘ Shoot to kill’
Namibia slams Botswana’s trigger- happy anti- poaching policy
BDF’s shooting of 4 men sparks Namibia/ Botswana diplomatic row
Namibia deplores BDF’s shoot to kill policy, which has potential to cause “disharmony” between neighbouring countries
Summons Botswana’s High Commissioner Batlang Serema to express its “regret and grave concern”
Botswana has nothing to discuss with Namibia- Security Expert
The shooting incident which resulted in four Namibian citizens being killed by the Botswana Defence Force ( BDF) anti- poaching unit is causing diplomatic tension between the two countries, Botswana Guardian has learnt. The Namibian government has expressed concern that the Botswana Government shoot to kill policy has the potential to cause disharmony between the neighbouring states.
Early this week the BDF explained that in its mission to defend Botswana’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and national interest, there was an incident between members of the BDF and poachers which resulted in four ( 4) poachers being killed.
The shooting has since resulted in Presidents of the two countries agree
ing to a joint- investigation following a telephone conversation over the incident. According to BDF Head of Protocol and Public Affairs Colonel Tebo Dikole the incident which happened on the 5th of November 2020 at around 2300 hours in Sedudu area ( Southern channel of Chobe River) involved contact with a syndicate of poachers believed to be part of a network responsible for cross border organised poaching.“The matter has been handed over to the relevant investigating agencies. As previously stated, there is an alarming surge of organised poaching for rhinoceros and elephants, especially in the western part of the country ( Okavango Delta) and in the Chobe National Park,” Colonel Dikole said. However, reports emerged this week that relatives of the four killed men are adamant that they were fishing in the Chobe River. The bodies were positively identified as those of Tommy Nchindo, Martin Nchindo and Wamunyima Nchindo and their cousin Sinvula Munyeme.
Namibia and Botswana have since agreed to a joint investigation on the killing of the four Namibians. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi- Ndaitwah said in a media statement on Tuesday that the agreement was reached by the presidents of both countries, Hage Geingob and Mokgweetsi Masisi.
The presidents’ engagements were preceded by Dr. Batlang Comma Serema, High Commissioner of Botswana to the Republic of Namibia being summoned to the Namibian foreign ministry. The Namibian government said it has learnt with “dismay” about the shooting and killing of its four ( 4) citizens at Chobe River near Kasane. The country says it took the incident in a “more serious light” and that relevant agencies were mobilised to shed light on the unfortunate incident.
Nandi- Ndaitwah said an engagement by Masisi and Geingob were preceded by her summoning Dr. Serema to the ministry in order “to express the government of Namibia’s regret and grave concern over the tragic killings.”
“While I informed him that the government of Namibia does not condone poaching, I strongly deplored the extrajudicial killing by the Botswana Defence Force in their anti- poaching drive. “Bearing in mind that the two countries signed the Boundary Treaty in 2018, I sought clarity from the High Commissioner on whether Botswana still maintained the ‘ shoot to kill’ as a government policy, as such a policy has the potential to cause a disharmony between the two neighbouring countries.
“I further called on the government of Botswana to speed up the joint investigation to expeditiously furnish the post mortem report as well as to assist with the repatriation of the remains to Namibia,” the Deputy Prime Minister said this week. A group of concerned people from the Zambezi region in Namibia is reportedly mobilising in the hope of attracting international attention to Botswana’s reaction to foreign nationals along its northern borders.
President Geingob said the incident is “deeply regrettable”. He said he has assured the bereaved family that this ‘ unfortunate’ incident is receiving the utmost attention it deserves from relevant authorities in the two countries.
“As we continue to deepen our extended bilateral, relations with Botswana I wish to assure Namibians that the safety of Namibians and the territorial integrity of Namibia will not be compromised,” the Namibian President said. Meanwhile, former army general who is also Alliance for Progressives chairman Pius Mokgware on Wednesday said Botswana has nothing to discuss with Namibia regarding the matter. According to Mokgware Masisi should have told his Namibian counterpart straightaway that he ( Masisi) does not discuss Botswana’s internal affairs with foreign governments.
“Those four individuals were killed in Botswana in a classified security area at 2300hrs. They entered the country illegally at an illegal point of entry,” Mokgware said in a Facebook post. He defended the BDF saying it is a professional army with clear rules of engagement. They are not trigger happy, as some people want to portray them, Mokgware argued.