By Staff Reporter
A Dukwi returnee, who lived in Botswana for 12 years, is calling government to intervene in the musical industry, and treat them equally.
Mr. Ovens Maseho Mubita (35) commonly known as Black mamba, a Kwasakwasa musician by profession told Caprivi Vision that, it is high time for the government to fulfil promises it made when were enticing the Caprivian refugees in Botswana to come back home and find a better life such as job opportunities.
A poor artist who is looking after his three children, do not have a job to earn a decent income to sustain himself and family with a grade 12 certificate alone, hopes that it would be best if he could employ himself by entertaining people for him to survive“life in Dukwi refugee camp is best more than we are living now, because we used to get food for free, free primary, secondary and tertiary education and medical aid is free you cannot just pay a cent” explained Black mamba.
The concerned musician who left Namibia on November 15, 1998, he lived in Dukwi refugee camp, then later moved to Francis Town where he worked as a supervisor in a saloon shop, revealed that he was approached by the then former Governor of the then Caprivi region Mr. Leonard Mwilima and the current Councillor of Linyanti Constituency Mr.Cletius Sipapela when he was convinced to come back home.
“They were driving a GRN Vehicle in Francis Town, they stopped me telling me that I must go back home they will give me job in the government” he said.
While living in Botswana, he was inspired by the likes of the famous Kwasa musicians, Slizer and Franco.
He released his debut album called Ndiyala which means Orphan, This was produced and recorded in Botswana in 2010 before his return to his mother land.
Black mamba was born on June 1, 1979 at Itwane Village in Kasheshe area, about 30km west of Katima Mulilo.
He warned that the government should consider the living of the returnees rather than telling people to give them opportunities, which are not there.
Lack of sponsorship and support from locals is still a challenge to move his band to the heights in entertaining the nation.
He alluded that “we have been discriminated even in music industry, we are discriminated during New Year bash and independence anniversaries, they don’t take me.”
He further advised the government to fulfil their promises as it is too hard to bring back a person who has been living in exile without making arrangement for that person.“ they should be incentives for that person to start the life with instead of nothing, I went several times to the former governor and Hon Sampofu[current governor] about anything or financial assistance to go ahead with my job as an artist, but all to no avail”
He further said he returned back to Namibia in 2010 alone, without a repatriation card, similar to the way he left his village in1998 during the exodus of Caprivians to neighbouring Botswana after the long debated call of secession by Mishake Muyongo.
Zambezi Regional Governor Lawrence Sampofu, denied that all Dukwi returnees from Botswana are not discriminated, and that his office was still waiting for UNHCR to give projects “on our part, constituency councillors were picked, we are still waiting for UNHCR as they are closing doors”
He confirmed that his council has been budgeting funds annually, N$96000 to each constituency in the region for start-up projects aimed at improving the life of the people at a community level.
However, Commissioner of Refugees in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration Mr Nkrumah Mushelenga refuted that himself did not give any promises to the Caprivian returnees “there was no employment opportunities; all what government should do is to facilitate identity documents.”
He added that, all what he knows is that under voluntary repatriation , people have to come back home and start working very hard looking into their own life , the way other citizens are doing.
“Some of the returnees are employed as nurses and teachers in the government” explained Mr Mushilenga.
Commissioner Mushilenga confirmed to this paper that so far his office has made some provisions to the recent returnees that included the wife and children of the former Member of Parliament and UDP foreign affairs secretary Mr Francis Sizimbo, who died and buried in Botswana.
“For those who came last year we have submitted something for them, they will soon be informed” he promised.
He revealed that the recipients will be supplied with zincs, wooden poles and nails.
The tripartite commission has set December 31, as the deadline of all Namibians who are in Botswana to return back.
Asked on what will happen to those who wish not to come back home, the Namibian refugee commissioner Mushilenga further pointed out that “ we are ready to receive them, I don’t want to think on what will happen… we are prepared”
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