25 Sep 2024

Emotions were swirling within a group of Ovaherero and Ovambaderu who thronged Dobe Border Post between Botswana and Namibia to have government’s promise of repatriating them fulfilled.

Some residents from Nokaneng, Habu, Tsau, Semboyo, Makakung, Kareng, Bothatogo, Toteng, Sehithwa, Bodibeng, Komana, Chanoga and some from the Ghanzi region had in 2013 shown interest in relocating to their country of origin, Namibia and requested the government to give them permission to do so. 

The reason advanced was that they were yearning to return to their ancestral homeland where their forefathers escaped the German persecution and settled in Botswana, now their birth place.

The applicants, most of whom are pastoralists, requested to be repatriated together with their livestock and other belongings. 

Both Botswana and Namibia governments acceded to their plea.

As such, on September 20, the first batch of 98 from Ngamiland region retraced their roots to Namibia,  together with their belongings minus livestock because they were from a Foot and Mouth Disease red zone.

When interviewed by BOPA, some expressed gratitude to both governments for facilitating the relocation exercise, saying although it took years, it was worth the wait as the relocation was carried with such diligence and thorough coordination. 

They thanked Botswana government for the support and love, indicating that their stay here was peaceful and comfortable as they enjoyed equal treatment with other Batswana. 

“I have such a rush of emotions right now because we have reached the moment we have been waiting for and I cannot wait to settle at our new place in our ancestral land,” said Mr Kapazu Kapazu from Kareng.

Another returnee, Ms Idah Tjimunee expressed excitement at the thought of finally reaching home, saying she had long waited for the repatriation exercise, more so that she had long sold some of her belongings with the hope of leaving and starting afresh at the new destination.

“I had lost hope because the relocation exercise was postponed several times, but now I am happy that we are going back to our ancestral land,” she added.

The chairperson of the repatriation committee, Mr Justice Muinjo thanked both governments for smoothly facilitating their relocation, saying despite the delay, they were happy that finally they were tracing their roots.

He urged those remaining to exercise patience as they could not be relocated at once.

Mr Muinjo appreciated that the first batch of the returnees was well taken care of from their respective villages up to the border. Sharing the background of the exercise, minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi narrated that as long back as 1956, the communities had always expressed an overwhelming desire to relocate to Namibia.

After Namibia attained its independence in September 1990, during President Dr Sam Nujoma’s state visit to Botswana, the two heads of states, President Dr Nujoma and the late President Sir Ketumile Masire agreed that the communities should be allowed to relocate to their ancestral land. Ends