The Editor,
The fear-mongering tactics meant to force Caprivian refugees to return home won’t work. Such misguided and ill-advised proposals as reported by the Namibian Sun can only work if the signatories – Botswana, Namibia and other SADC states – to the 1951 Geneva Convention will abandon their commitment to the United Nations treaty, which would be catastrophic!
Namibia and its SADC member states are signatories too many refugee protocols, such as the AU Convention Governing Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, which was adopted in 1969 – will all that be thrown-out?
How will SADC benefit from such a back-ward stance? Who is spearheading this dangerous proposal?
Interestingly, Botswana or South Africa has no refugee situation of its own, as is the case of Namibia and Zimbabwe plus some of the “failed” African states. By having countries like Botswana and South Africa within SADC guarantees the protection of mankind – otherwise many Africans will be hacked to death by their own governments.
Those good African countries within SADC must not be tinted with brutal regimes that are faced with the refugee dilemma.
Indeed, African governments with a refugee problem must not try to hide behind legitimate, credible, and exemplary democratic countries that have none, but such governments must wake-up and start addressing their embarrassing state of affairs by finding political solutions to their political problems than trying to undermine and sabotage international treaties, whose ideals many African leaders have experienced and enjoyed.
A reason many such African leaders are alive today!
Meaning, there is no way any rational government or body would want to nullify its noble and humanitarian undertaking that protects the most vulnerable members of any community, the refugees – men, women, and children.
Refugees do not create themselves, but threatening conditions in their country of origin is the root-cause of people fleeing their homes. No human-being would want to leave a country of his/her own for no apparent reasons.
For the Caprivi situation, Namibian authorities have tried to entice Caprivian refugees to go back home, but to no avail.
Unfortunately, no one can force refugees to return to a country where they still fear for their lives: torture, imprisonment, and possible killings, as was the case of a Caprivian returnee James Chilundu Chibandu at Singalamwe, who was summarily executed by a member of the Special Field Forces. No matter how much “sweet-talk” Dr. Kawana and others will use, some Caprivians refugees residing in Dukwi won’t return to Namibia until a lasting political solution is found.
If true that the Sothern African Development Community (SADC) are advancing an agenda where they would want to curtail the hosting of refugees from member states, then they must first deal with cases that led to the displacement of such people. If not, such is a far-fetched dream! Refugees will keep piling-up on the borders and shores of safer countries.
For example, Caprivian refugees still have well-founded fears of possible persecution should they go back to Namibia. Dr. Kawana must understand that human rights don’t come from his “pockets”, but all people are endowed with inalienable rights to live dignified lives and be masters of their political destiny.
Other than complicating the Caprivian refugee situation, why can’t the Namibian government via President Pohamba be brave enough to call for direct peace talks with Mishake Muyongo and his exiled United Democratic Party than running in circles?
Surely, the idea of chasing after UDP supporters and members residing in Dukwi refugee camp can only back-fire should such people be forced against their wishes to return to Namibia. A time-bomb in the making!
The “Band-Aid” solution that Namibia is advancing can be a recipe for disaster! Namibians know of the growing unease and tension still being felt in many quarters surrounding the lingering political question over the Caprivi Strip.
In addition, Caprivian refugees had via the Botswana government aired their concerns to the tripartite commission that outlined some of the reasons they don’t want to go back to Namibia, which amongst others were: personal security, ongoing Caprivi treason trial, and the lack of confidence of those spearheading the voluntary repatriation program.
Begging to ask, did the tripartite commission, especially the Namibian government, resolve any of those key points made by Caprivian refugees residing in Botswana? Still, Caprivian political prisoners are still languishing in political detention, so do threats of high treasons keep re-surfacing against those deemed to be die-hards of the secessionist cause.
Are those existing conditions harmonious for the return of Caprivian refugees?
All in all, the Namibian government cannot have all sides of the bread buttered. Peace has a price! Namibia must do the right thing by putting its card on the table for a political solution to be found over the Caprivi political stalemate.
President Pohamba must invest his time and energy in resolving the political impasse – just like Nujoma did with the Rehoboth saga. For now, Dr. Kawana should take a back seat and let someone with no vested interest speak to Caprivian refugees, especially where the issue of trust and confidence is crucial in finding peace.
Overall, the current misguided political and diplomatic path pursued by the Namibian government of trying to “high-jack” Caprivian refugees is a non-starter, some Caprivians might come back home with many opting to live in Botswana or to be resettled in third countries as Caprivian refugees, which is very far from resolving the political crises within the country.
Mulife Muchali
Dipl. Pub. Admin; HEd (PD); B.Ed (Hons); B. Crim; M.A (PBHS)
CANADA
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