Tensions between Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and some Namibians living along the borders shared by the two countries reportedly escalated over the weekend.
This was after the BDF arrested some Namibians ferrying tourists on suspicion that they were on Botswana territory.
Independent sources claimed this week that the recent dispute arose after both BDF officers claimed that the area the Namibians were in was Botswana territory while the Namibians also insisted that it was Namibian territory.
The Telegraph has learnt that the crocodile and hippo infested area marks the border between the Southern Afrocan countries with no fences on either side.
It is understood that following the confrontation, police in Zambezi region of Namibia, filed a report against the BDF with their Headqauters seeking the intervention of the Police leadership, according to media reports from Namibia.
Nambian Police inspector general (Police Commissioner) Sebastian Ndeitunga is reportedly poring over a file allegedly containing information showing how the BDF had a confrontation with tourists along the Chobe River.
The Namibian newspaper reported that police commander deputy commissioner Evans Simasiku on Monday said a report about the incident has been submitted to Ndeitunga’s office.
“We made some consultations this morning [Monday] and interviewed the victims. We forwarded the report to the office of the inspector general for further directives,” Simasiku was qouted as saying.
It is alleged that a BDF patrol unit pointed an AK-47 rifle at tourists and Namibians on a boat cruise along the Chobe River over the past weekend.
The Botswana armed unit allegedly brought in a mounted gun and ordered the tourists to vacate the area, saying it is Botswana territory.
Two cruise boats, carrying 20 passengers and two crewmen, are said to have been ordered out of the waters claimed to be the territory of Botswana.
The report by the Namibian says that the incident has been condemned by the Namibian Lives Matter movement, which has accused president Hage Geingob of failing to decisively deal with confrontations along the border between the Zambezi region and Botswana.
Incidents on the border have seen Namibians being shot and killed by the BDF.
The shootings have angered Namibians while Geingob and Botswana’s president Mokgweetsi Masisi have called for calm while investigations are carried out.
Tension between Namibians and BDF heightened last year following the death of four Namibians believed to be fishermen and suspected to be pochers by the BDF. Masisi and Geingob are trying hard to maintain diplomatic ties but public pressure is mounting as Namibians are calling on their government to take a decisive action against BDF.
