AS part of its ongoing efforts to resettle, integrate and create economic opportunities for hundreds of returning Batswana of Namibian descent, the Namibian government has to date spent close to N$59 million to acquire five farms for their relocation.

The returnees are primarily the descendants of the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama tribes, who fought and perished in the war of resistance against German colonial troops between 1904 and 1908.

The few survivors of that
gruesome war ended up in
Botswana, and today, their descendants continue to show willingness to return in their hundreds to their motherland, Namibia. Presently, thousands of these descendants are found in various villages and settlements across Botswana, particularly in Ghanzi, Tsau, Maun, Semboyo, Komana and Chanoga.

Many others, who are all subsistence farmers rearing thousands of cattle, can also be found in Botswana’s vast Ngamiland district at large centres such as Charleshill and other localities such as Kareng, Bothatogo, Toteng, Sehithwa, Bodibeng and Makakung.The Namibian government has welcomed the descendants’ plea to return to their motherland, and to demonstrate its willingness, the government has to date bought a total of five farms measuring a combined 23 000 hectares for about N$59 million to resettle the returnees.

Three of those farms are in Otjozondjupa region, while one is in Hardap region, and another in Omaheke region.

As of July 2023, about 150 Batswana of Namibian descent, including 70 school- children, renounced their Botswana citizenship and were ready to return to Namibia.

At the time, indications were that all the necessary paperwork had been done in Botswana, and they were only waiting for the formal registration of their movable and non-movable goods such as cattle, motor-vehicles and other belongings. The first group of Batswana of Namibian ancestry were repatriated from that country in April 1993, and that number has since immensely grown over the years, and continues to grow.

Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua recently confirmed that all processes and systems are in place from the Namibian side to receive and integrate the returnees and all their belongings into the country’s mainstream economic activities.

He, however, indicated that things have been a bit slow from the Botswana side, especially for the descendants who have been waiting to renounce their Botswana citizenship, and to also have their properties registered and recorded before being allowed to relocate to Namibia.

“Our government has been ready since last year. I can confirm that everything from our side is in place to receive our brothers and sisters, who have been yearning to return to their motherland. Farmlands have been bought by the government to resettle them, and another 25-hectare piece of land with a water connection and electricity has also been secured in the area of Gam to receive and accommodate their animals,” shared the governor. He added: “So, the Namibian government is ready and has since last year been ready to welcome them back home. But I’m hoping the Botswana government will soon sort out all necessary logistics to allow the returnees to have a smooth transition coming
this way. If it is transport issues they are struggling with, our
 government has on numerous occasions indicated its readiness to assist with that as well.” The governor emphasised that it is not just about repatriating the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama descendants back to the country, but also to ensure the returnees are well-integrated and are given economic opportunities, just like all other Namibians.

Last April, Cabinet directed the international relations ministry, home affairs ministry, ministries of gender equality, and of land reform, to spearhead the process and ensure the smooth issuing of all required documents.

Cabinet also directed the gender equality ministry to provide social grants to the returnees within three months of their date of entry, and for the health ministry to fully capacitate the Gam clinic to cater for the projected growing number of this community.

-ohembapu@nepc.com.na