Namibia is said to have prevailed over Botswana to abolish its unwritten shoot to kill policy which saw more than 37 Namibians suspected of being poachers being gunned down by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) during patrol.
According to a report by the Namibian publication, that country’s Defence minister Frans Kapofi reportedly revealed that Namibia and Botswana have agreed to abolish instances of citizens of the two countries being killed by their defence forces.
The shoot to kill policy was part of an unwritten shoot-to-kill policy adopted by Botswana against suspected ivory poachers. In an interview with this reporter in 2016, former minister of Tourism and Wildlife Tshekedi Khama said the aim of the policy was to deter poachers from engaging in poaching activities.
He said at the time that Botswana would continue with the “shoot to kill” policy if the lives of those protecting wildlife species are threatened. “Our position on what we do when we find poachers with weapons is to defend ourselves if our security forces are threatened,” he stated.
In 2021, former President Ian Khama also told this reporter that he held discussions with Namibian President Hage Geingob over the same policy.
“I can confirm that the matter concerning the shooting of poachers was discussed briefly but as the discussions involved another Head of State it would be inappropriate to reveal the substance in detail of the discussions except to state that I informed him of our position,” said Khama.
“Do not confuse “shoot to kill “with “shoot on sight”. Shoot to kill should only apply in unique circumstances based on the threat to oneself and whatever you are protecting.”
At the time, Khama said; “Shoot on sight is indiscriminate and without any consideration of the necessity to do so. It has never been the practise in the BDF and I hope still remains such.”
The Namibian quoted Kapofi as saying that the agreement was made when officials from the two countries held a meeting at Swakopmund last year. The publication reported that Kapofi was speaking during a meeting with traditional leaders at Eenhana recently. He said he informed traditional leaders in the Zambezi region about this.
“We have heard of our people killed by the Botswana Defence Force while crossing into Botswana. We were discussing those aspects and I assured them that we are engaging our counterparts in Botswana. That aspect of people being killed should not be repeated,” Kapofi was quoted as saying.
He reportedly said the government has put policies in place for Namibians found within the borders or territory of Botswana, or Botswana nationals found poaching in Namibia. Those transgressing the law will be arrested, charged and taken to court, he reportedly said.
Kapofi reportedly said earlier this month, the Namibian chief of defence, air marshal Martin Pinehas engaged his counterpart in Botswana on issues relating to bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.
“We decided when we met them at Swakopmund last year that we must put up structures that safeguard the safety of our people along our borders, and that the killing of our people, be it in Namibia or Botswana must stop forthwith,” the Namibian quoted Kapofi as having said.
The paper said over the past two decades, about 35 Namibians have been killed in Botswana anti-poaching operations, such as the three brothers Tommy Nchindo, Wamunyima Nchindo and Martin Nchindo and their Zambian cousin Sinvula Munyeme. The four were killed in November 2020, along the Chobe River in the Zambezi region. At the time, Botswana claimed they were part of a syndicate of poachers believed to be part of a network responsible for cross-border poaching. However, the Nchindo family denied those claims.
Namibian Lives Matter representative Charles Siyauya was quoted as saying by the Namibian that despite Kapofi’s pronouncement, there would likely be little action from the Namibian government.
“It’s an old song. There is no protection from the government of Namibia. God is the only protector of the lives of Namibians in the Zambezi region.
“It is one of those unchecked political statements by honourable Kapofi, who is too arrogant, and lacks sympathy with the people he was supposed to protect from external threats posed by the government of Botswana, which is thirsty and is craving Namibian blood,” he was also quoted as saying.
