19 Apr 2017

Namibian refugees residing at Dukwi camp have been implored to consider voluntary repatriation back to their mother land.

Addressing them on Tuesday at the camp, the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi said following the court order which halted the voluntary repatriation process in 2015, they have as the government, through his ministry, abided by the court order. He noted that a number of them had signed to go back home.

Mr Kgathi also noted that among the conditions of the court order, was that they should ensure that those who had opted to go back were facilitated to do so while ensuring their safety back home.

Minister Kgathi, however, noted that at the time of the order, the United Nations report on the research they had undertaken to determine the conditions in Namibia had not come out. He added that when it came out it said  conditions in their country were stable and safe as well as secure for them to go back.

The minister said they have since decided to re-start the voluntary repatriation process while abiding by the court order as well as the UN and United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) recommendations.

Minister Kgathi also said he has since met with his Namibian counterpart and that they have discussed the issue of ensuring their safe return to their respective areas.

Prior to the previous meetings with the Namibian refugees at Dukwe, he said they had raised the issue of a long clearance process in Namibia, and that in their meeting with his counterpart, they agreed to speed up the process so that there were no delays.

Mr Kgathi also noted that from 1999 to date, over 3 000 Namibians have returned home through voluntary repatriation.

He added that it was a remarkable effort by the two governments facilitated by the UN through UNHRC.

Regarding the Namibian refugees who are against the repatriation process and want a meeting with their Namibian leadership before they can decide to go back, the minister said he could not facilitate the meeting because as Botswana in the protocol of diplomacy, they do not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. 

He, however, said if they do not go back they were not going to use force. He added that they would consider other options such as integrating them into society.

The minister also noted that with the global refugee situation, it was not going to be  easy to move them to other countries. BOPA