President Hage Geingob yesterday reminded outgoing Botswana high commissioner to Namibia that the relationship of the two neighbours could be frayed when they kill each other’s citizens.

Geingob previously said the incident, when the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) on 5 November 2020 killed three Namibian fishermen and their Zambian cousin, is being handled at the highest level between the two neighbours. 

Yesterday, he told outgoing diplomat Batlang Serema that “we cannot consider ourselves good friends when incidents like that shooting are taking place.” He said this when Serema, who has been in the country for just over two years, bade farewell to him at State House. The three brothers, Tommy (48), Martin (40) and Wamunyima Nchindo (36), and their cousin Sinvula Muyeme (44), were shot by the BDF along the Chobe River. 

The Kasane Magistrate’s Court in Botswana earlier this year ruled in favour of that country’s defence force, absolving it from gross negligence and liability for criminal litigation in the brutal killing of the four fishermen.

In her ruling, Kasane regional magistrate Taboka Mopipi maintained that contrary to sentiments that the BDF were heavy-handed, evidence shows that they always act within the confines of the law. 

Meanwhile, Namibia and Botswana last moth signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a one-stop border post at the Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno entry point, a move aimed at facilitating the free movement of people and goods between the two nations.

The two countries also agreed on the future use of IDs for travel between the two nations.

Serema said he looks forward to the groundbreaking ceremony of the one-stop border post at the Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno entry point next year. Without mentioning where, he also informed Geingob that he was being redeployed.

“I have enjoyed my stay in Namibia, and thank you for the support,” Serema told Geingob.