Caprivi exodus slowing down

The number of Namibians fleeing secessionist tensions in the northern Caprivi Strip south into Botswana had reached approximately 2,500 and was slowing down, a UNHCR spokesman told IRIN on Tuesday.

“We understand that the exodus has now stabilised at that figure and that it has indeed slowed down,” the spokesman said. The asylum-seekers, most of whom are being housed in the Dukwe refugee camp north of the capital Gaborone, claimed in interviews with Botswana officials that they were fleeing harassment and intimidation by Namibian state security forces.

However, Phil ya Nangoloh, a spokesman for Namibian Society for Human Rights, who acknowledged that recent tensions in Caprivi had abated, said that many people crossing the border were not reporting to reception centres in Botswana. “These include, we estimate, some 3,000 San bushmen who have not formally sought asylum,” he said. “There are still people trickling across in small numbers.”

The exodus started late in October last year. The refugees include the former leader of Namibia’s opposition Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), Mishake Muyongo, Senator Francis Sizimbo, former Caprivi Strip governor, John Mabuku, and a traditional leader, Boniface Mamila.

Last week, the governments of Namibia and Botswana said in a joint statement they “were convinced that the political environment in Namibia, specifically in the Caprivi region, was conducive to the return of the Namibian nationals.” The Namibian government pledged not to prosecute people who returned of their own free will.