Mbumba, Masisi promise to silence guns along Chobe
The presidents of Namibia and Botswana say the presence of armed forces along the two countries' borders is to ensure peace, rather than escalate tensions that have seen several Namibian nationals being killed by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF).
These remarks were made last week during Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s official visit to Namibia, where he was received by his Namibian counterpart Nangolo Mbumba.
Tension along the two countries' borders came to a head in 2020 when members of BDF killed four men at Sedudu along the Chobe River, sparking outrage and leading to an unsuccessful court battle in Kasane, Botswana. They were brothers Tommy, Martin and Wamunyima Nchindo, and their Zambian cousin Sinvula Munyeme.
“As countries that live side by side, we wish to ensure that our militaries, along with our citizens, get along on both sides,” Masisi said.
He added that they are building peace by ensuring that the citizens of the two countries understand it.
“I think we are all familiar with the recent history where there have been conflicts that involved civil-military relations. We never want to get back there. We want to make sure that we never experience those sad moments ever again. And one of the ways to do [so is] to make sure that those in the military and our citizens on both sides understand what it means to live next to each other as two countries.”
Affirmation of stability
According to Mbumba, there are two ways things could go when the forces of two countries are next to each other.
“If there are conflicts, then you know you are in trouble. If you have peace, then you know that this is an affirmation of the stability of your regions and between your two countries. We are emphasising here that we have peace and that we need stability. We want everybody to understand that these defences, these forces, are not for us to fight one another, but to protect our economic interests, peace, good neighbourliness, agricultural production on both sides, water, environment and wildlife.”
He added that the armed forces are an ‘insurance policy’ for the two countries.
“We thank the two ministers of defence for having started these types of practices so that a person, when he sees a Namibian soldier wearing a Namibian uniform, or a Botswana soldier wearing a Botswana uniform, does not run, does not fear, does not feel animosity. We know they are here, all of them, on both sides, for the protection of our countries.”
These remarks were made last week during Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s official visit to Namibia, where he was received by his Namibian counterpart Nangolo Mbumba.
Tension along the two countries' borders came to a head in 2020 when members of BDF killed four men at Sedudu along the Chobe River, sparking outrage and leading to an unsuccessful court battle in Kasane, Botswana. They were brothers Tommy, Martin and Wamunyima Nchindo, and their Zambian cousin Sinvula Munyeme.
“As countries that live side by side, we wish to ensure that our militaries, along with our citizens, get along on both sides,” Masisi said.
He added that they are building peace by ensuring that the citizens of the two countries understand it.
“I think we are all familiar with the recent history where there have been conflicts that involved civil-military relations. We never want to get back there. We want to make sure that we never experience those sad moments ever again. And one of the ways to do [so is] to make sure that those in the military and our citizens on both sides understand what it means to live next to each other as two countries.”
Affirmation of stability
According to Mbumba, there are two ways things could go when the forces of two countries are next to each other.
“If there are conflicts, then you know you are in trouble. If you have peace, then you know that this is an affirmation of the stability of your regions and between your two countries. We are emphasising here that we have peace and that we need stability. We want everybody to understand that these defences, these forces, are not for us to fight one another, but to protect our economic interests, peace, good neighbourliness, agricultural production on both sides, water, environment and wildlife.”
He added that the armed forces are an ‘insurance policy’ for the two countries.
“We thank the two ministers of defence for having started these types of practices so that a person, when he sees a Namibian soldier wearing a Namibian uniform, or a Botswana soldier wearing a Botswana uniform, does not run, does not fear, does not feel animosity. We know they are here, all of them, on both sides, for the protection of our countries.”
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