We the Basarwa are impatiently waiting for Gem Diamond to move forward to the discussion table where we will hammer out a number of crucial issues and come out with sustainable and beneficial solutions to both parties.
We Basarwa are also citizens of this country and would love to see the economic of the country growing. We want to see Botswana exporting more goods to other countries, rather than importing from them. We Basarwa also want to be proud of Botswana's economic growth of which we should be part and parcel. Our exclusion from sources of economic development forces some of us to sabotage this development, which we do not want.
We all know that no one can bite the hand that feeds him or her. We the Basarwa of CKGR also want to work on mines in our land, just like other Batswana do. We will therefore support any mining activities taking place in the CKGR - our land - if this will ensure our economic development in terms of job creation, as has been the case in Botswana and elsewhere. We are against government belief and practice about Basarwa, that we must sit and wait for handouts, and social services, which are provided to us from revenue collected from mining and taxes paid from those Batswana who work in mines, tourism and other sectors of the economy. Our relocation far away from tourism and mining industries in the CKGR is in line with such a belief. We condemn government for that and welcome Gem Diamond's move to sit down with us.
The consultations suggested by Gem Diamond, however should not exclude this most narrow-minded Department of Wildlife and National Parks, which believes that nature preservation, and or conservation is their sole responsibility. The DWNP needs to be dragged in and taught that the Basarwa - as part of the human race - can also look after and benefit from natural resources management projects like tourism. There is a need for another environmental impact assessment as well to work out how the management of wildlife and mining in the CKGR can be planned and implemented for the well being of Batswana, not only the interest of DWNP.
We from CKGR would like to sit around the table with the Company but not be 'represented by opportunistic, self-interested NGOs in the discussions. We can speak by ourselves for ourselves.
However we would like to advise Gem Diamond to be careful because we Basarwa also have''friends' who know a lot and give us advice that confuses us. Otherwise we better meet at the round table.
Kuela Kiema
New Xade
P O Box 546
Gantsi
By email
