BDF given licence to kill, says rights group
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
Namibian Lives Matter activist Charles Siyauya says the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has been given licence to kill innocent Namibians after that country’s court system found it innocent in the killing of the three Nchindo brothers and their Zambian cousin.
The Kasane Magistrate’s Court in Botswana exonerated members of the BDF who fatally shot brothers Tommy, Martin and Wamunyima Nchindo and Sinvula Muyeme.
The quartet were gunned down by the BDF, who claimed they had entered a restricted area of the Chobe River, in November 2020.
Magistrate Taboka Mopipi ruled that the BDF cannot be held liable for the deaths of the slain men.
Siyauya cautioned Namibians living along the border with Botswana to be careful, saying they risked being shot, having their bodies dragged into that country and being accused of animal poaching.
“People living along the river are living in fear. Abstain from fishing, abstain from fetching grass, abstain from grazing your cattle alongside the river, abstain from everything,” Siyauya warned.
Intimidation
The BDF, Siyauya said, had openly intimidated Namibians living in the Zambezi Region in the aftermath of the four men’s deaths.
“Just after the shooting, a BDF helicopter had been seen hovering above Kapane. There were also Namibians and tourists who were on the Namibian side being pointed with guns by the BDF, so these people won’t stop,” he said.
The activist urged government to improve its efforts to protect the lives of those living along the border.
“Going forward, I want to recommend government take a stand and protect its citizens from external forces,” Siyauya said, adding that seeking peace with Botswana was of paramount importance.
WINDHOEK
Namibian Lives Matter activist Charles Siyauya says the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has been given licence to kill innocent Namibians after that country’s court system found it innocent in the killing of the three Nchindo brothers and their Zambian cousin.
The Kasane Magistrate’s Court in Botswana exonerated members of the BDF who fatally shot brothers Tommy, Martin and Wamunyima Nchindo and Sinvula Muyeme.
The quartet were gunned down by the BDF, who claimed they had entered a restricted area of the Chobe River, in November 2020.
Magistrate Taboka Mopipi ruled that the BDF cannot be held liable for the deaths of the slain men.
Siyauya cautioned Namibians living along the border with Botswana to be careful, saying they risked being shot, having their bodies dragged into that country and being accused of animal poaching.
“People living along the river are living in fear. Abstain from fishing, abstain from fetching grass, abstain from grazing your cattle alongside the river, abstain from everything,” Siyauya warned.
Intimidation
The BDF, Siyauya said, had openly intimidated Namibians living in the Zambezi Region in the aftermath of the four men’s deaths.
“Just after the shooting, a BDF helicopter had been seen hovering above Kapane. There were also Namibians and tourists who were on the Namibian side being pointed with guns by the BDF, so these people won’t stop,” he said.
The activist urged government to improve its efforts to protect the lives of those living along the border.
“Going forward, I want to recommend government take a stand and protect its citizens from external forces,” Siyauya said, adding that seeking peace with Botswana was of paramount importance.
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