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 “I was not sure that I would be allowed in the country. My mother-in-law called to check if I was not imprisoned,” he said thanking the government for its hospitality.
This seemed to be the end of Corry’s praise as he continued to throw barbs at the government for what he termed unwillingness to squarely address the plight of Basarwa in Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR). He told senior civil servants to their face that the government they serve is decades behind in international thinking.
The CKGR problem is extremely simple to solve according to Corry. He said government has to recognise that Basarwa in CKGR have collective ownership rights. “Basarwa in CKGR have a right to hunt and gather. They should not ask for permission to enter the CKGR.
Government should reinstate the borehole at Mogomela, reinstate the trucking system to provide water. The stoppage of this was diabolical and an infringement of their (Basarwa) constitutional rights,” he said.
He said he was not opposed to government providing social services to Basarwa. But he wanted the services to be taken to Basarwa and not the other way round. The best model, he said, would be the introduction of schools and clinics in the CKGR. The schools would be manned by bilingual Basarwa so that Basarwa children can be taught their traditions in their environment. Corry took issue with the government position that it is expensive to provide services for Basarwa inside the CKGR and they must be relocated to settlements. He said the trucking system and other services in the CKGR were by far the cheapest.
Ever since they were “forcibly” removed from the CKGR, the Basarwa have become dependent, Corry said.
“Before this relocation, these people who were once broadly independent are now dependent on government handouts and governments’ training programmes. Development is about choice. In the settlements, people have nothing to do and they end up abusing alcohol and such ills as domestic violence and suicides are on the increase. Life expectancy has gone down and infant mortality of the Basarwa has gone up,” he said.
He added that Basarwa have been disposed of a vital resource when they were removed from their ancestral lands.
“This land to Basarwa is their supermarket, their church and their school,” Corry said.
During question time those who do not share his views fell on him like a ton of bricks. It was very clear that the house was divided between those who shared the view of government and those who supported the cause of Basarwa. Some accused Survival International of exploiting Basarwa under the guise of protecting them.
“What is your agenda?’’ one asked
Some wondered why Survival is linking the removal of Basarwa with diamonds when there is no evidence to that effect.
Representatives of Basarwa came to the aid of Corry saying it was them who enlisted the support of Survival International.
“Le lapisa Corry’’one said.
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