Zambezi ‘losing land to Botswana and Kavango East’
Zambezi residents, backed by the Namibian Lives Matter Movement (NLMM), say the region is becoming smaller by the day, as its jurisdiction continues to be given away to the Kavango East Region and Botswana - to whom 21 islands, previously under Mayeyi tribal control, have been acceded.
Residents are calling for the restoration of the ancestral boundary of the Caprivi Strip to Mukuvi and the creation of a new constituency to be named Bwabwata. The proposed move was submitted to the fifth Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission during its visit to the region last week.
NLMM chairperson Sinvula Mudabedi, during a public engagement meeting with the commission, questioned why Zambezi residents are not treated equally compared to those from other regions. “Why is it that when land is taken away from us and given to the Kavango Region, suddenly there is money available to develop Kavango? When Zambezi loses its ancestral land, which has been happening since 1992, the residents of Zambezi are denied the common heritage of being Namibians,” he said.
‘Serious and sensitive’
“What Zambezi has experienced through the delimitation processes in this country is the loss of ancestral land. Why is Namibia not consistent with what the African Union [AU] says when it comes to the Zambezi Region? Pillar five of the AU border programme, which I am a part of and have consulted on, is meant to transform borders into catalysts of peace, stability, growth and socioeconomic and political integration,” Mudabedi said.
“The Zambezi Region is not being properly integrated with the rest of Namibia. These commissions keep pushing it to make it separate. Yet, when we stand up and speak for justice, we are labelled criminals. This will not continue,” he fumed.
“When you enter Stungo Island, it is clear that it belongs to Botswana. About 21 islands from the Mayeyi traditional authority now belong to Botswana. These matters are serious and sensitive.”
He urged the members of the commission to “apply their minds to these issues”, adding that if Zambezi residents are not treated fairly during this process, they will not hesitate to seek international remedies.
“It is common knowledge that the Zambezi Region is the only region in Namibia that has lost land to Botswana and Kavango. Out of all the 14 regions, it is also common knowledge that Zambezi has been reduced with every delimitation commission. This is not a tribal statement; it is a numeric fact,” he added.
‘Selective morality’
Mudabedi criticised government's “selective morality”, citing discrepancies in how boundary disputes are handled.
“There was a dispute between Kavango East and Kavango West and because Kavango East couldn't push above 70 kilometres west; they came and pushed 100 kilometres west into Caprivi and nobody raised it. When we want to correct things, we are reminded that we may be going to the Bantustans. In fact, for lack of better words, many delimitation commissions operated on organised chaos,” he said.
“What we are doing here is to restore the historical narratives of men and women who fought for the liberation of this country, who are now back and are standing up, surprised that things are changing here and not anywhere else.”
Mudabedi added that land rights are fundamental human rights.
“They form the basis for access to food, housing and development. Without access to land, many people find themselves in abject poverty. Access to and rights over land are often stratified and based on hierarchy. Redistribution and guarantees of land rights are critical, as they can prevent serious conflict. The ongoing war between Israel and Palestine reflects how government systems have failed to address land conflicts,” he said.
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Residents are calling for the restoration of the ancestral boundary of the Caprivi Strip to Mukuvi and the creation of a new constituency to be named Bwabwata. The proposed move was submitted to the fifth Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission during its visit to the region last week.
NLMM chairperson Sinvula Mudabedi, during a public engagement meeting with the commission, questioned why Zambezi residents are not treated equally compared to those from other regions. “Why is it that when land is taken away from us and given to the Kavango Region, suddenly there is money available to develop Kavango? When Zambezi loses its ancestral land, which has been happening since 1992, the residents of Zambezi are denied the common heritage of being Namibians,” he said.
‘Serious and sensitive’
“What Zambezi has experienced through the delimitation processes in this country is the loss of ancestral land. Why is Namibia not consistent with what the African Union [AU] says when it comes to the Zambezi Region? Pillar five of the AU border programme, which I am a part of and have consulted on, is meant to transform borders into catalysts of peace, stability, growth and socioeconomic and political integration,” Mudabedi said.
“The Zambezi Region is not being properly integrated with the rest of Namibia. These commissions keep pushing it to make it separate. Yet, when we stand up and speak for justice, we are labelled criminals. This will not continue,” he fumed.
“When you enter Stungo Island, it is clear that it belongs to Botswana. About 21 islands from the Mayeyi traditional authority now belong to Botswana. These matters are serious and sensitive.”
He urged the members of the commission to “apply their minds to these issues”, adding that if Zambezi residents are not treated fairly during this process, they will not hesitate to seek international remedies.
“It is common knowledge that the Zambezi Region is the only region in Namibia that has lost land to Botswana and Kavango. Out of all the 14 regions, it is also common knowledge that Zambezi has been reduced with every delimitation commission. This is not a tribal statement; it is a numeric fact,” he added.
‘Selective morality’
Mudabedi criticised government's “selective morality”, citing discrepancies in how boundary disputes are handled.
“There was a dispute between Kavango East and Kavango West and because Kavango East couldn't push above 70 kilometres west; they came and pushed 100 kilometres west into Caprivi and nobody raised it. When we want to correct things, we are reminded that we may be going to the Bantustans. In fact, for lack of better words, many delimitation commissions operated on organised chaos,” he said.
“What we are doing here is to restore the historical narratives of men and women who fought for the liberation of this country, who are now back and are standing up, surprised that things are changing here and not anywhere else.”
Mudabedi added that land rights are fundamental human rights.
“They form the basis for access to food, housing and development. Without access to land, many people find themselves in abject poverty. Access to and rights over land are often stratified and based on hierarchy. Redistribution and guarantees of land rights are critical, as they can prevent serious conflict. The ongoing war between Israel and Palestine reflects how government systems have failed to address land conflicts,” he said.
[email protected]
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