Dukwi refugee stalemate persists after Geingob visit

They sat in the camp, quietly, eyes glued to the television set.  On the screen was Hage Geingob, the Namibian President, on his first official state visit to Botswana and, in the process, becoming only the second head of state to address local legislators.

The more than 1,000 refugees at Dukwi Refugee Camp have been in a state of stasis since March when they won a crucial High Court decision allowing them to stay in Botswana, despite government’s efforts to repatriate them. A stalemate has ensued as Botswana still wants the refugees to voluntarily repatriate, while the Namibians claim persecution, torture and even death await them in their motherland from vengeful authorities.