Botswana’s newly elected president, Duma Boko, has made a groundbreaking pledge to restore the rights of the Bushmen, an indigenous tribe of hunters and gatherers.
This move comes after the government allowed the tribe to bury their deceased member, Pitseng Gaoberekwe, on their ancestral land, ending a long-standing impasse.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), where the Bushmen were forcibly removed, has been a contentious issue.
Survival International, a tribal rights advocacy group, claims the Bushmen were pushed out due to the presence of diamonds in the area.
However, the previous government denied these allegations, stating that they wanted the Bushmen to move closer to modern amenities and life.
President Boko, a former opposition leader and human rights lawyer, has taken a significant step towards addressing the Bushmen’s grievances.
He promised to restore their rights, including allowing them to hunt wild animals and access their ancestral lands ¹. This development has been welcomed by Itumeleng Johanne, an officer at Ditshwanelo, a local human rights advocacy group, who emphasized that the new government should continue to prioritize the protection of minority groups.
This move marks a significant shift in Botswana’s approach to addressing the Bushmen’s rights, which have been a long-standing concern.
The country’s High Court ruled in 2006 that the evictions were illegal and upheld the Bushmen’s right to return home.
However, the government’s implementation of policies has been criticized for being inadequate and discriminatory.
