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DEFENCE minister Frans Kapofi said Namibia and Botswana have agreed to abolish instances of citizens of the two countries being killed by their defence forces.

He said the agreement was made when officials from the two countries held a meeting at Swakopmund last year.

Kapofi was speaking during a meeting with traditional leaders at Eenhana recently.

He said he informed traditional leaders in the Zambezi region about this.

“We have heard of our people killed by the Botswana Defence Force while crossing into Botswana. We were discussing those aspects and I assured them that we are engaging our counterparts in Botswana. That aspect of people being killed should not be repeated,” Kapofi said.

He said the government has put policies in place for Namibians found within the borders or territory of Botswana, or Botswana nationals found poaching in Namibia.

Those transgressing the law will be arrested, charged and taken to court, he said.

Kapofi said earlier this month, the Namibian chief of defence, air marshal Martin Pinehas engaged his counterpart in Botswana on issues relating to bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.

“We decided when we met them at Swakopmund last year that we must put up structures that safeguard the safety of our people along our borders, and that the killing of our people, be it in Namibia or Botswana must stop forthwith,” he said.

Over the past two decades, about 35 Namibians have been killed in Botswana anti-poaching operations, such as the three brothers Tommy Nchindo, Wamunyima Nchindo and Martin Nchindo and their Zambian cousin Sinvula Munyeme.

The four were killed in November 2020, along the Chobe River in the Zambezi region.

At the time, Botswana claimed they were part of a syndicate of poachers believed to be part of a network responsible for cross-border poaching. However, the Nchindo family denied those claims.

Namibian Lives Matter representative Charles Siyauya yesterday told The Namibian despite Kapofi’s pronouncement, there would likely be little action from the Namibian government.

“It’s an old song. There is no protection from the government of Namibia. God is the only protector of the lives of Namibians in the Zambezi region.

“It is one of those unchecked political statements by honourable Kapofi, who is too arrogant, and lacks sympathy with the people he was supposed to protect from external threats posed by the government of Botswana, which is thirsty and is craving Namibian blood,” he said.

ILLEGAL FENCING IN ANGOLA

Kapofi also asked traditional leaders to inform residents grazing in Angola to stop fencing off grazing areas.

He said some Namibians have put up homesteads and declared themselves headmen in Angola, without the permission of the Angolan authorities.

“Now people are angry,” Kapofi said.

He said all Namibian citizens grazing in Angola should be known, and they should not violate Angolan laws.

“Angola is a friendly country but if we push them, they will just close the borders and if they close the borders, what do we do? Please, let’s try and respect the sovereignty of that country,” Kapofi said.