Bushmen 'determined' as legal battle over water approaches climax

Bushmen ‘determined’ as legal battle over water approaches climax 13 January

Xoroxloo Duxee died of dehydration after the Bushmen's water borehole was disabled. © Survival

On January 17th, Botswana’s Court of Appeal will begin a hearing to decide whether Kalahari Bushmen living on their ancestral lands have the right to water.

The Bushmen, who returned to their lands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve after a previous court victory, are appealing against a 2010 High Court ruling that denied their right to access a well in the reserve they had used for decades.

The 2010 ruling, which came a week before the UN formally recognized water as a fundamental human right, has been slammed by Africa’s key human rights body for denying the Bushmen’s ‘right to life’.

Without the well, the Bushmen are forced to make arduous journeys by foot or donkey to fetch water from outside the reserve.

With talks with the government having failed, the Bushmen turned to the courts to gain access to their well. The Bushmen, who are simply seeking permission to use the well, are appealing on the grounds that the denial of water subjects them to inhuman and degrading treatment.

At the same time as banning the Bushmen from accessing water, the Botswana government has drilled new wells for wildlife in the reserve, and is due to give Gem Diamonds the go ahead to mine at one of the Bushman communities. It also allowed Wilderness Safaris to erect a luxury tourist lodge on Bushman land in the reserve, complete with bar and swimming pool for tourists.

President Khama, whose nephew and personal lawyer sit on the board of directors of Wilderness Safaris, has previously described the Bushmen’s way of life as ‘an archaic fantasy’, and recently referred to them as ‘primitive’ and ‘backward’.

One Bushman from the region who wished to remain anonymous, said, ‘We are still hoping, not to be given anything, but simply for justice and our rights. The government hopes that by denying us water, it will force us from the reserve once more. It must know by now that we are determined to live with our ancestors on the land we have known since time began.’

 

Act now to help the Bushmen

Your support is vital if the Bushmen are to survive. There are many ways you can help.

• Please give to our appeal to help fund the Bushmen’s court appeal against a judgement denying them access to water
• Sign our petition calling on Wilderness Safaris to move their luxury tourist lodge off Bushman land
• Writing a letter to the Botswana government is a quick and simple way to let them know of your concern.
• Donate to the Bushman campaign (and other Survival campaigns).
• Write to your MP or MEP (UK) or Senators and members of Congress (US).
• Write to your local Botswana high commission or embassy.
• If you want to get more involved, contact Survival…
• Visit the Bushmen’s own website…

 © Survival International, 1969–2011 | We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures.

 

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net

 

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs