PRESS RELEASE OF THE NEGOTIATING TEAM, THE MANDATED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE (CKGR)

CESSATION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS IN THE CKGR

The Negotiating Team, which comprises representatives of the residents of the CKGR, First People of the Kalahari (FPK), the Working Group for Indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa (WIMSA), Kuru Development Trust, DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights and the Botswana Council of Churches (BCC), has, through its lawyers, requested the President of Botswana, not to terminate the provision of basic and essential services to the residents of the CKGR.

Until the changes to Government policy in the late 1990’s, the Government maintained that people living in the game reserve must move to settlements outside the reserve, for reasons including: to make way for Wildlife; and that the Basarwa needed to move to areas where the Government is able to provide them with basic services like schools, hospitals, water, etc. The Government argues that it is not able to provide these services within the CKGR due to economic reasons. In 1998, 1999 and 2000, the Government has changed its policies to make it possible for people living in and adjacent to game reserves to be ‘developed’ where they live. This is particularly what the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Programme, envisages.

Prior to and since the removals of 1997, the Government has always maintained that it will not ‘force’ anyone to leave the game reserve. The termination of services by the Government effectively forces people out of the reserve, as they will have no access to basic resources. This is contrary to the Government’s stated position in accordance with policies as they existed prior to 1998 and as they currently exist. The residents are determined to remain on their ancestral land and are prepared to take the Government to court to obtain the appropriate urgent relief.

The Government informed the residents that from 31 January 2002, it will no longer provide any basic services such as water, the provision of food rations, the transport of children to and from boarding schools and the provision of health services, to the people living inside the game reserve. It is further reported that the Government has threatened to remove the pump and the engine from the borehole at Mothomelo, a settlement centrally located inside the CKGR, as well as dismantle the 10,000-litre water tanks located in each settlement. The Government maintains that the reason for its decision to cut services was the cost of providing services to the residents. It claims that these costs amount to P55,000 per month, or P73 per resident per month. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has very recently stated that they will no longer be issuing hunting permits to Basarwa for use within the game reserve.

Previous discussions between the DWNP and the Negotiating Team, have resulted in an agreement concerning the contents of DWNP’s Third Draft Management Plan. This plan is based upon the outcome of consultative processes facilitated by the Negotiating Team. The Plan makes provision for the residents of the game reserve to engage in the use and management of the natural resources in and around their residential areas, as income generating activities. Further plans were about to be developed for each proposed ‘Community Use Zone’. The further plans would outline the specific terms for community-based management of resources, development of eco-tourism & cultural tourism enterprises etc. These would be within the framework of the DWNP's objectives of preserving biodiversity and aesthetic qualities of the reserve.

The Negotiating Team believes that the decision of the Government to terminate essential services to the game reserve is wrongful and unlawful. We believe that it is a deliberate attempt by the Government to force the residents out of the reserve. We maintain that the relocation of the residents from the CKGR is unnecessary and that it is in breach of the constitutional and human rights of the residents. We have constantly impressed upon the Government that the CKGR is different from the other game reserves in Botswana. This, because, it was created in 1961, specifically to allow the residents to continue to live in it and practice their hunter-gatherer way of life.

The Negotiating Team has called upon the Government not to implement its decision. Instead, it should allow the process of negotiations through DWNP to continue. These negotiations are aimed at ensuring the full implementation of the community based natural resource management programme for the benefit of the residents. The Negotiating Team urges the Government of Botswana to review its decision in order to ensure the continuation of participatory processes.

Released by DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights on behalf of the Negotiating Team

31 January 2002
Gaborone