Saturday, November 2, 2024

Masisi confronted by angry Namibian protesters

President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Friday had a hostile reception when scores of disgruntled Namibians comfronted him as soon as he landed in Namibia.

The angry protester demanded justice following the fatal shooting of their compatriots by members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) last year. 

The confrontation comes at a time when a group that described itself as Namibian Lives Matter has filed a report with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) demanding that sanctions be imposed against Botswana alleging human rights violations. 

According to pictures and recorded videos seen by the Sunday Standard, dozens of protesters from the Namibians Lives Matter movement confronted Masisi and his delegation upon arrival in Windhoek on Friday morning over what they described as the extra-judicial killings of four Namibians by members of the BDF. In the video the protesters could be seen chanting anti BDF and Botswana slogans calling on Masisi to abolish the shoot to kill policy. Masisi was in Namibia for a one-day working visit accompanied by Minister and senior government officials. 

One of the organizers of the movement, Sinvula Mulumo told Sunday Standard in an interview that they took a decision to organize a protest against Masisi and Botswana as part of their efforts to compel their government and Botswana to spring into action and make public a joint report from an investigation that was conducted by officials from the two countries. The investigation was aimed at establishing the truth behind the fatal shooting of the four men identified by their compatriots as innocent fishermen. 

“The message we were sending to him on Friday  was how his hands were full of blood. He is the commander in chief of the BDF and he should rein them in. All the fishermen who were shot by the BDF were said to be suspects but they were not found in possession of elephants tusks or rhino horns,” he said. 

“How do I know that,” Mulumo asked rhetorically. “I I know that because we have always asked the BDF to take the tusks and rhino horns that they had planted to an independent laboratory for tests and they refused. Masisi does not have control over the BDF,” he said. 

Mulumo also confirmed reports that they have filed a report with the AU and the UN seeking recourse and the two bodies’ intervention. 

“We want sanctions to be imposed against Botswana for violating human rights. Some of these organisations have requested that we exhaust local remedies first before we can seek further recourse. Hence we have since taken up the matter with the ombudsman. Some high profile figures have also promised to take up the matter with human rights organisations on behalf,” he said. According to Mulumo, under normal circumstances when a Head of State including that of Botswana, when he jets into Namibia, the flag of his country should be seen flying along the roads. 

“Our government also knew the damage we could have done had they announced Masisi’s visit timeously. It is for the first time that a Head of State’s visit is announced a day prior to his visit. They wanted to catch us off guard. If not, the whole country could have been at the airport to confront him,” said Mulumo. 

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