Botswana, Namibia discuss border fence repair
The Botswana government is engaging its Namibian counterpart regarding the maintenance of the 230 kilometres boundary fence between Gantsi District and Namibia.
The consultation is done in line with Article 5 of the Boundary Treaty, which stipulates that the maintenance of boundary fences and beacons and any other boundary structures shall be on equal cost sharing basis.
Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Kefentse Mzwinila said this when responding to a question in parliament.
MP for Gantsi South, Motsamai Motsamai had asked Mzwinila if the ministry has any plans to maintain/ rehabilitate the boundary fence between Ghanzi District and Namibia to reduce cross- border crime, in particular stock theft. Mzwinila gave a brief background of the boundary fence between Ghanzi District and Namibia.
He said it is approximately 230 kilometres in length and was solely constructed by the South West Africa ( Namibia) Veterinary Services in the 1960’ s. To date, he said, it has been maintained by the government of Namibia as there was no bilateral agreement or boundary treaty between the two states. He said the fence is generally in fair condition, but sporadically suffers disrepair, especially around the Grootlaagte area.
However, plans are underway to maintain the fence as “our international boundary with Namibia has been reaffirmed in 2017 by a joint technical team of experts from both countries”, he said. He said that a boundary treaty was also finalised and signed by the Heads of States in February 2018.
Article 5 of the Boundary Treaty stipulates the maintenance of boundary fences and beacons and any other boundary structures on equal cost sharing basis. Mzwinila said for “the treaty to be binding on both parties, there is a need to diplomatically exchange instruments of ratification which has not yet been completed”. He said the ratification process is expected to be concluded before the end of this financial year, but that in the interim, his ministry is engaging their Namibian counterparts with regard to the maintenance of the boundary fence in line with the provisions of the Treaty.