Drama at Khama's CKGR talks

TSHIRELETSO MOTLOGELWA
Staff Writer | Friday June 4, 2010 00:00

 

The Botswana government is said to be negotiating with Basarwa and a group of human rights NGOs, among them BOCONGO, Ditshwanelo, the First People of the Kalahari, the Kuru family of organisations, the UB Research Centre for San Studies and the Working Group of Indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa.

The pioneer of the talks, Roy Sesana, and a number of community members are said to have pulled out of the negotiations.

The negotiations are said to have started in June 2008 when a Basarwa delegation, led by Roy Sesana, met with Khama agreeing to build up delegate teams consisting of residents and members of the NGO community engaged with Basarwa issues. 

In November of the same year, the delegates of the CKGR residents met with an inter-ministerial committee including officials from the Ministries of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Local Government, the Office of the President, Defence, Justice and Security, Minerals, Energy and Water Affairs and the Attorney Generals Chambers.

The residents committee consisted of residents of Xere, Molapo, Mothomelo, Kikao, Metsiamanong, Gugama, Gope, New Xade and Kaudwane, however the settlement of Metsiamanong pulled out of the process at that stage.

The press release states that minister, Kitso Mokaila, then met with the two teams in September 2008. It is at this meeting that the 'ground rules and an Action Plan for the consultation were drawn-up and agreed upon'.

Visits were made to the communities by a team led by Mokaila late last year, to consult with residents.  Two weeks ago the team reported back in Gaborone. 'The purpose of the meeting was to consider the reports of both the government and the CKGR NGO coalition,' stated the press release.

'It was also agreed at this meeting that a joint press statement should be released at the conclusion of Mokaila's consultations visits, and be effected as soon as possible to inform the public on the CKGR consultation process.

It should be noted that all parties are committed to transparency, integrity and trust with regard to the process and to holding discussions without prejudice,' concludes the press statement.

Sesana has a different view of events. Last week, Sesana said government wanted to set the conditions of the process without the input of the Basarwa. He would not get into the specifics of the debate.

However, he said he differed with Khama at their initial meeting.  Basarwa sources say that Sesana and Khama differed over the involvement of the international organisation, Survival International, with Khama ruling their involvement out while Sesana and some members of the Basarwa community wanting to have them involved.

Mosarwa author and human rights activist, Kuela Kiema, told Mmegi that Sesana has been left marginalised since most community members thought the government's offer was reasonable.

'After all, we were free to engage local NGOs who have always been involved in Basarwa issues before Survival came onto the scene. The problem is that Sesana wants to go to court,' said Kiema.

Sesana and other Basarwa are due to face government again next week at the High Court. They want the court to grant them the right to drill a borehole in the CKGR, which government has prevented. The court is set to hear the case on June 9.