Bambukushu petition Khama over Ngamiland
Tefo Pheage | Friday February 19, 2016 16:16
The letter to the President arose from a resolution of a January 16, 2016 meeting which was held at Popagano Junior Secondary School where the agenda was to reflect and discuss chieftaincy and tribal recognition issues.
“We resolved to write a letter to his Excellency, the President of Botswana outlining the following concerns arising from the event of Basubia recognition as a tribe and the pending decision of the Wayeyi tribe submissions,” reads part of the letter. The letter, a copy of which has been leaked to Mmegi, outlines three points.
“The Bogosi Act of 2008 should be reviewed as its implementation in its current form will lead to desirable tribal tensions, more especially the part that deals with application for recognition and the part that deals with tribal territories,” they argue.
According to Bambukushu, Ngamiland is a multi-tribal and multi-lingual region therefore rendering the implementation of the Bogosi Act 2008 in its current form is very complex if not impossible. “It will unnecessarily drag out our region into tribal strive. It implies in its current form that recognition of a tribal community to become a tribe will be followed by allocation of tribal territory. In the case of Ngamiland and in relation to Bayeyi, where would such exclusive territory be found as the region is covered by all these tribes?”
Bambukush further state: “If Bayeyi are to be given a tribal territory, it should be given that all tribal groupings should have been consulted and no such consultations have been carried out in our region. Kamanakao Association should have consulted Mbungu-Wa Kathimana Cultural Association to discuss the issue of territorial independence but no such meeting has ever been addressed even by the Portfolio Ministry.” They further quote former president Festus Mogae who once said: “Fellow tribesmen at all times we must always remember that what brings us together is more than what should divide us”. They appeal to Khama to ensure the matter is addressed holistically. “Your Excellency, we strongly feel that this issue of tribal recognition should not be adressed in piece meal aproaches. We need a holistic approach to safeguard our unity as a nation.”
The letter further states that there are a number of questions that arise when one reads through the Bogosi Act in so far as application for recognition is concerned. “When did the eight recognised tribes apply for such and who recognised them? The judgment at the High Court in the matter between the Kamanakao Association and the State ruled that Cheiftancy Act by then was unconstitutional because it denied Bayeyi their human right of being recognised and ordered that all laws that stop any tribal community from being recognised as a tribe are unlawful.” They therefore contend that the continued implementation of the Bogosi Act of 2008 is unconstitutional. This is because the application process on its own is an inhibition or hindrance or against the High Court judgment which ordered the removal of all laws that stop other tribal communities from being recognised as tribes. The tribe then made the following recommendations:
That the Bogosi Act of 2008 is an outdated and undemocratic piece of law that should not have any place in a mature democracy like Botswana. If the government is to implement this act in its current rudimentary form then all tribal communities should be consulted in Ngamiland to address the issue of territorial boundaries as the Hambukushu are numerically superior in Okavango to Bayeyi tribesmen.
The tribe further recommeds that all tribes in Botswana should be represented in Ntlo Ya Dikgosi regardless of their numerical strength to bring about true national unity.
“Moreover we should abolish tribal territories and abolish the Boundaries Act of Botswana as these are outdated and have the potential to drag the country into unnecessary tribal tensions and replace them with local authority administrative boundaries.”
The tribe hopes Khama will properly handle the matter of recognition and allocation of territory to Wayeyi as a tribe.
“We will be satisfied if preliminary consultations is conducted publicly and sensitive regard is paid to the political implications of the whole process.” Reached for comment government spokesperson Jeff Ramsay said he would find out if the petition has reached Khama.