Katima Mulilo
A meeting meant to welcome 18 Namibian refugees from Botswana took a dramatic turn on Monday when one of the refugees said government should lift the ban it imposed on the United Democratic Party (UDP) in 2006 for its secessionist ambitions.
UDP is a minority party that was led by exiled political outcast Mishake Muyongo.
Felix Kakula, one of the refugees on a mission to verify the safe return of the 900 or so refugees still at Dukwe Refugee Camp in Botswana, ahead of the cessation of their refugee status set for December this year said they will only return as members of UDP.
Another condition revealed by Kakula was that the UDP returnees should be allowed to recognise Muyongo as their political leader.
He made the remarks at a meeting attended by the Zambezi Regional Governor Lawrence Sampofu, Namibian and Botswana home affairs, UNHCR and others. Kakula is among 13 refugees from Dukwe who want to verify that the political and socio-environment is conducive for their return to Namibia before December.
“We fled this country to Botswana because of the death threats we were receiving from the Namibian government and for political reasons. We recognise UDP and Mishake Muyongo as our leader,” he stated, startlingly.
“We want the government to confirm to us that we will come back as UDP because we left as UDP or else we will only come back as corpses,” said Kakula, who defied the order that their visit should not include political banter.
“We have pleaded with the government to allow us to visit our brothers and sisters for too long now. Why are those people in prison for 15 years if Namibia is a democratic country?” questioned Kakula in reference to the people charged with the short-lived secessionist uprising that was crushed successfully by NDF soldiers.
He stated that the “Caprivi case” was purely political that needed international intervention, as he claimed the government failed to resolve the matter.
“A political issue has been turned into a criminal case. We have been waiting for a dialogue for 15 years now. Namibia, as a democratic country, is failing and it’s important that the matter be handed over to international bodies to find a political solution,” lamented Kakula. Contacted for comment regarding Kakula’s comments, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology Stanley Simataa said the UDP remains banned and that it was unfortunate that refugees were setting up conditions that were detrimental to their voluntary repatriation.
“If that’s their condition, then it’s unfortunate. The government’s position is that UDP remains banned and nothing has changed,” the deputy minister said.
“If they decide to stay in Botswana, it’s their choice but when the December deadline comes they will have a choice to apply for citizenship there and if not Botswana laws will apply. No one has been persecuted in Namibia and many that have returned are prospering in their lives,” stated Simataa, who is in the Zambezi Region on an official visit.
The regional governor also said UDP was a banned political party and noted that Namibia was a peaceful country in which those that have returned have joined the mainstream society and continue to eke out a living on an equal footing with others.
Similar sentiments were shared by the private secretary to the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security in Botswana, Augustine Makgonatsothle, who said the Botswana government is convinced that indeed Namibia was peaceful and there was no reason why refugees could not return home.
The refugees then visited Chichimane at the traditional headquarters of Mafwe Chief George Simasiku Mamili. They are expected to be in the country this whole week until July 7 when they are expected to return to Dukwe.