Bobirwa farmers want action
Some proposed a shoot to kill approach against rustlers
The Commission of Inquiry into cross border livestock rustling in the Bobirwa area is progressing well, with communities calling on the government to adopt a shoot to kill policy against rustlers if they do not stop stealing their livestock.
For the past four decades, farmers in this area have endured the worst torture at the hands of their neighbouring Zimbabweans who have shown no signs of neighbour- liness.
In fact, Bobirwa farmers could have long taken the law into their own hands and retaliated, but opted instead to form Mephato ( regiments) and or clusters to protect themselves and their livestock.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi has given the Commission up to the end of November 2021. The Commission started its assignment by meeting with different leadership of the entire area. The leadership in turn either accompanied the Commission and or sent representatives to all places that it visited in order to validate their sittings.
The Commission started its mandate with a Kgotla meeting in the Bobirwa constituency village of Bobonong. Other villages so far visited include, Mabolwe, Mmadinare and Gobajango. This week Wednesday they were addressing a meeting in Semolale.
In an interview, the Commission Chairman, Gabriel Seeletso confirmed that their meetings are progressing well with the farmers and communities of the Bobirwa area. He said they had taken a deliberate decision to hold an inquiry sitting in Mmadinare in the presence of the political leadership.
“We intend to conclude our face to face interviews and or inquiry meetings on October 24th, 2021, then wait for any interested party to submit their views in writing until October 30, which is the time when we will start writing the report,” Seeletso said.
Besides Seeletso, other members of the Commission are former Senior Private Secretary to President Masisi and now Secretary of Rural Development Council ( RDC) in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development ( MLGRD), Berzack Maphakwane, two Botswana Defence Force ( BDF) soldiers - Lieutenant Colonel Maatla Motonto based at Joint Force headquarters and holding a position of Staff Officer Operations, and Colonel Rebaone Selei based at BDF headquarters holding a position of Staff officer Strategic commitment.
From Botswana Police there is Assistant Commissioner and Criminal Investigating Department North Central Musa Oteng. Other members are Charles Masole, Lekgotla Phiri and John Kgosiemang.
The Secretariat of the Commission of Inquiry is composed of Assistant Commissioner of Botswana Police, who is currently stationed at the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security as Police Advisor, Witness Keotshepile Bosija as its head, and Delic Sehunwe and Tabitha Latelang
The terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry include; To establish the problem of livestock rustling in the Bobirwa villages along the Botswana/ Zimbabwe border, and determine the extent of the problem.
They are also to establish how long the problem of livestock rustling in the area has been in existence, what causes or caused it, and who are the key players, as well as to further establish from the perspective of the community, what was done to address the problem and any mitigating measures initiated by the community to deal with the problem.
In addition, the Commission is to also establish the existence of any cross- border livestock rustling management/ mitigation strategy by law enforcement agencies, and what gaps exist in that strategy, to establish what compromises the effectiveness of the management/ mitigating strategy referred to above, and to seek input from the community as to what the socio- economic, political, security risks may result from the livestock rustling.
Their task also entails establishing whether or not there has been a displacement of farmers in the area as a result of the livestock rustling and how it has affected the diplomatic relations of the two countries. The team will further engage the Ambassador of Zimbabwe based in Botswana in recognition of being a critical stakeholder in the matter. Upon completion, the Commission is expected to submit a written report to President Masisi not later than 30th of November, 2021.