Baherero want to return home
Boniface Keakabetse | Thursday September 21, 2017 15:54
Addressing a full council meeting on Monday, Enga said this emerged during the ongoing consultations between the government and people who have expressed the desire to return to Namibia. Enga explained that consultations are ongoing to facilitate repatriation of Batswana of Namibian decent back to their ancestral homeland.
He said the verification exercise was conducted in June at Tsau, Nokaneng, Qangwa, Maun, Toteng, Sehitwa, Kareng and Makakung to ascertain the list of applicants.
He said the exercise also involved ascertaining the assets of those wishing to relocate. Enga reiterated that the district is working with the national committee on logistical arrangement to pave way for the repatriation. Meanwhile, one of the relocation organisers, Kaaja Korujezu told Mmegi that they were concerned at the slow pace of the relocation process between the Botswana and Namibian governments.
He explained that the process commenced in 2013 saying up to now there is still not much progress. “We are ready. Even if they say tomorrow is your departure date we would be ready. But however, we are confident we will finally go.”
Korujezu explained that their voluntary request for relocation is not influenced by poverty as claimed by certain quarters.
He said they just want to return to their ancestral homeland where their forefathers escaped the German persecution and settled in Botswana. He shared that the applicants want to be repatriated together with their livestock and other belongings. Fears have emerged that Botswana will lose a large number of cattle population to Namibia, as majority of the applicants are pastoralists who keep large heads of cattle.
Journalist, Solomon Tjinyeka, who is one of Baherero close to the issue, revealed in an interview that majority of the people who have want to relocate are enticed by expectations of a better life in Namibia. He said majority are farmers who expect better markets for their cattle in Namibia.
Since 2007, Ngamiland, where majority of applicants come from, has experienced recurring Foot and Mouth Disease that affected cattle trading.
As a majority of Baherero are pastoralists, many have had their livelihoods adversely affected. Tjinyeka also reiterated that some of the applicants are newly graduated youths in Botswana who expects better employment opportunities in Namibia. He said some of the villages such as Makakung could turn into ghost villages, as many people want to return to Namibia.
Tjinyeka further explained that the relocation issue is divisive amongst many families. “There is a family where the wife and children wants to relocate while the husband does not want to go. “
However he explained that many people do not want to go, as they are not sure if they will be well treated once they arrive in Namibia.