Churches, Ditshwanelo refuse to back down
Tefo Pheage | Friday March 11, 2016 14:49
The two organisations have filed supporting affidavits in the Lobatse High Court case in which the refugees are suing the Botswana government for plans to deport or forcibly repatriate them to Namibia.
The Namibian government has already reacted angrily and publicly to Ditshwanelo’s statements on the matter, while the government of Botswana reportedly feels let down by the BCC and regrets inviting the faith group to partake in the June 2015 ‘Go See, Come Tell’ mission to assess conditions in Namibia.
The two civil society organisations have been outspoken in their opposition to the two governments’ decision to forcibly repatriate the Namibian refugees, despite fears of treacherous circumstances in Namibia.
Churches say the basis for the support of the refugees is that due process was not followed. In their supporting affidavit to the Namibian refugees’ urgent application, the BCC states that, the ‘Go See, Come Tell’ mission was aborted on its third day and they were advised by the Governor of Zambezi Region in Namibia (formerly the Caprivi Region) to pack their bags and return to Botswana.
Ditshwanelo tasted the ire of the Namibian government on February 26 this year, when that country’s Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Pendukeni Livula-Ithana, blasted the human rights organisation in the Namibian Parliament.
Ditshwanelo had stated that there was no evidence that the environment in Namibia, politically or otherwise, in relation to the refugees, had changed for the better.
Ditshwanelo had also alleged that on December 9, 2015 some Botswana returnees were found guilty of treason, sedition and attempted murder, and sentenced to imprisonment.
“Namibia is a democratic country governed in terms of its constitution and the law,” said Livula-Ithana. “Secessionism is a crime in almost every country. “Those who participated in this act of violence would obviously stand to be prosecuted. However, the majority of the 700 plus refugees in Botswana comprise of young persons who left Namibia either very young or were even born in Botswana.
“What crime have such innocent persons committed. “Therefore the utterances of Ditshwanelo is (sic) a fabrication and deserves to be thrown in the dustbin where it belongs.”
In a statement this week, Ditshwanelo vowed to push on, saying the matter had been forwarded to their lawyer to handle.
While the Namibian government attacked Ditshwanelo, the Botswana government, through Defence, Justice and Security minister, Shaw Kgathi, says in as much as they would like to make their views public about BCC’s involvement with the case, they are constrained as they do not want to be in contempt of court.
The BCC, meanwhile says anyone who knows about the organisation’s work with refugees and its call to serve humanity, will dare not raise a voice against their support for the Namibians at Dukwi refugee camp.“
“Anyone who strives to silence the church, wants to silence humanity because the church is humanity,” said BCC vice-president, Reverend Gabriel Tsuaneng.
The faith organisation shared historic volumes with this publication indicating long-running work with refugees, dating back to 1964.
His counterpart, Reverend Mosweu Simane said helping refugees was a core interest matter for the BCC and its motherbody, the World Council of Churches (WCC).
“One of the most dramatic phenomena of our times is that of voluntary movement of millions of people forced to leave their homes and their countries.
They are variously known as refugees, displaced persons, expelles and exiles. “They are victims of the unjust social, economic and political structures of societies of the violation of fundamental human rights, and of brutal armed conflicts.
“They are struggling for survival, in search of food, refuge, identity, and belonging. They need justice, peace and recognition of their human dignity,” Simane said citing a WCC document. University of Botswana Theology and Religious Studies senior lecturer, Dr Obed Kealotswe said the BCC was ‘very vulnerable’ to government control.
“A clever government will always take advantage of a weak church to do what it likes. Our christian organisations are very submissive to government and they cannot make any clear policies on matters of church and state.
“As I have cautioned before, a church that has ministers who are involved in partisan politics cannot speak to government with one voice.
Some of its ministers will always dance to the tune of their political parties and thus fail in their prophetic role as they claim it,” he charges.