The virtual tribe
Zolani Kraai | Friday March 14, 2014 16:04
Over the years and to date, development strategies among Basarwa communities in Botswana, particularly in the Gantsi District, have been unable to satisfactorily improve incomes, employment and general welfare of their lives.
According to some scholars in Botswana, Basarwa’s dependence on farm labouring in Gantsi district continues to be a major socio economic debate.
The continued marginalisation experienced by the Basarwa in Botswana is a function of structural inequalities emanating from decades of slavery and serfdom, and this is according to a contribution in a journal of Social Development in Africa (1999) by a University of Botswana lecturer Dr Keitseope Nthomang.
Nthomang reveals that effects of ill treatment of Basarwa by the post-colonial government impacted their welfare negatively.
“The then government did not develop sufficient infrastructure to facilitate improvement of their socio economic conditions,” he said.
He adds in his journal that, the activities of the post colonial state, with respect to the control and use of land resources, wildlife and tourism, have disposed the Basarwa of land, of which 80 percent is wholly owned by mainly white farmers of South African origin.
According to Nthomang, the pre-independence government did not do much to ensure that Basarwa own land as an ethnic group. “It would appear that the Basarwa are the only ethnic group in Botswana who do not own land.
Many of them live on ranches where they work as labourers,” Nthomang stated. Furthermore, Nthomang mentioned that the situation had always existed influenced by the socio economic issues such as unemployment and Basarwa social behaviour.
“Habitual drinkers among the Basarwa suffer from general self-neglect, particularly poor personal hygiene and a tendency to ‘forget’ to eat when drinking, which can lead to malnutrition.
Physical side effects reported include pale skin, red eyes and weight loss with more serious cases developing symptoms of alcohol psychosis, particularly hallucinations and incoherence of thought.
Nthomang cited that socially, alcohol is seen as a contributing factor to an increasing number of traumatic events and injuries reported at health facilities. “Many of the injuries are sustained in violent physical fights or attacks in which sticks, knives and spears are commonly used. Wife beating is also claimed to be a more regular occurrence as is the beating of children by adults, hitherto unknown among the Basarwa.
Still, the Ministry of Local Government and Lands 1987 Report, as then called, revealed that poverty tends to be more widespread and absolute in Gantsi than in other villages in Botswana.
“The level of poverty among Basarwa is often indicated by poor shelter, inadequate food resources, and low levels of nutrition and excessive alcohol intake. It further expose other factors been that of high levels of poverty-related diseases such as tuberculosis, inadequate clothing, poor sanitation, high dependency ratios and lack of cash and purchasing power.
Notwithstanding, “about 90 percent of the Basarwa, especially those in the settlements, depend on food rations to meet their survival needs,” (UNICEF 1989). Another scholar, Mogalakwe in his 1986 Journal, highlighted that some Basarwa lived in camps provided by their farm employers and always face expulsion scare. “Generally, the Basarwa farm labourers are underpaid and live under the most squalid conditions,” he stated.
Mogwe and Hitchcock in their 1992 papers pointed out that Basarwa as an ethnic community suffer infringements upon their dignity as they lack self-awareness and self-confidence to articulate their issues (Mogwe, 1992; Hitchcock,(1992).
Alcohol abuse
A Mmegi trip to Gantsi Township exposed Basarwa’s vulnerability to morbidity, health and social problems that emanate from alcohol use. Squatting by Basarwa in and around the township’s drinking spots influence the health-related consequences, it was claimed by an anonymous Gantsi District Council personnel.
The economic consequences of habitual alcohol use are devastating and act as distinct barriers to any sense of development. A regular drinker can easily become economically tied and indebted to alcohol.
A variety of delinquent acts and criminal offences were also perceived by workers to be associated with excessive alcohol consumption. One source reported that poaching by the Basarwa was the result of alcohol-induced adventurism. Another indicated that it was not uncommon for male and female children to either withdraw or drop out from school after Standard 7 due to alcohol abuse and that some young girls in the community would end up being vulnerable to various social ills such as defilement.
Gantsi squatter camp residents prostitute them to buy alcohol. Child neglect is an increasing problem when parents are intoxicated so early in the day that they are not able to prepare food for their children, even when the food is available.
A concern is that some parents would sell food to buy alcohol while others make it a substitute of food for their children.
Alcohol-related violence is said to be responsible for a substantial number of injuries to men, women and children and it is also believed to contribute to spousal and child abuse, and is a major cause of social conflict.