Namibian President Hage Geingob has broken ranks with President Mokgweetsi Masisi over the killings of Namibians suspected to be poachers, a leaked recording audio suggests.
Namibian media reports indicate that Geingob previously said the incident, when the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) on 5 November 2020 killed three Namibian fishermen and their Zambian cousin, is being handled at the highest level between the two neighbours.
But in a new recorded audio, Geingob broke his silence as he informed outgoing Botswana High Commissioner to Namibia, Batlang Serema that consultations between the two countries have to be done “at all levels.” Reports also indicate that the citizens of Namibia wanted their government to confront Botswana on its alleged “shoot to kill” approach of people they suspect to be poachers.
In the recording, Serema told Geingob that he was happy that recently there was a high-level meeting at Chobe and Kasane regions aimed at addressing some of the challenges faced by residents of the two countries.
To this, Geingob replied that; “We have to do it at all levels.”
In what appears to be Geingob’s first acknowledgement of bowing to public pressure by his government to condemn the killing of Namibians by Botswana army on suspicion that they are poachers, the Namibian leader said: “we have to do it at all levels.”
He added: “You know that the issue of the army…The issue of the army has to be addressed… we have people who are talking…it is good that you are friends but (” we cannot consider ourselves good friends when incidents like that shooting are taking place.”
Geingob also added that “it is good that we are paying attention to this. We have to address that issue, which we are doing.”
Serema had informed Geingob during the meeting that he was “happy” that there was a high-level meeting in Chobe and Kasane regions aimed at what he described as “twinning” and “people to people relations.”
At the beginning of the meeting, Geingob had revealed that his relationship with Masisi is “very good because at our level we can call each other.”
He said a positive diplomacy between countries was a good initiative as it was a tool aimed at avoiding war. In the newly emerged audio recording, Geingob can be heard asking Serema if “you are leaving,” to which Serema responded thus: “I’m leaving sir.”
Geingob also sought to know from Serema that; “So you don’t want to stay here.” This was followed by a laughter from Serema who added that, “No, I wanted to stay more, but you were told while we were in Gabs (Gaborone).” To this, Geingob said: “I think I will know very soon.”
Serema added that: “Of course, I enjoyed being here sir and I wanted to thank you for your support. I have learnt a lot.”
Serema added that; “It is good and we should communicate and that’s why we are here, especially coming from academia I learnt a lot.”
The Namibian leader indicated that; “We should honour our relationship; I don’t know where you are going.”
“Are you going back to academia or diplomacy,” Geingob asked. Serema replied: “It’s diplomacy… I’m going to diplomacy, it’s a transfer actually.” Geingob added: “National service starts only when we can communicate especially when coming from academia and I have learnt a lot from you.”
