Namibia, Botswana prisoner-swap talks supported
Conditions of transfer still under discussion
The PDM's Elma Dienda said effective bilateral cooperation is essential to advancing Namibia's external interests with Botswana within the correctional facilities arena.
Over the past two decades, more than 35 Namibians have been arrested and killed in anti-poaching operations in Botswana.
This is according to Elma Dienda, a Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament.
She made a statement in the National Assembly last week in support of an agreement between Namibia and Botswana on the transfer of sentenced persons.
She said that such an agreement will lead to the promulgation of effective legislation, which will allow Namibian inmates to be transferred from Botswana to Namibia to be rehabilitated in accordance with constitutional protections and international human rights treaties to which Namibia is a party to.
According to her, Namibians who are sentenced in Botswana need to be rehabilitated adequately for them to be returned to society as changed persons.
Cooperation
“We are not sure how incarcerated Namibians are treated in Botswana,” she said.
Dienda said it is worth considering that because Botswana has a “shoot to kill” policy and capital punishment is legal by virtue of section 203 of the penal code of Botswana, how will incarcerated non-nationals be treated within the prisons of Botswana?
“Will dignity be observed? Will international human rights be observed? Will the objective of rehabilitation be observed?”
She said that effective bilateral cooperation is essential to advancing Namibia’s external interests with Botswana within the correctional facilities arena.
Work together
Dienda said that bilateral cooperation is a key building block of international relations, covering relationships between the home country and individual foreign states.
“The Memorandum of Agreement entered into by and between Namibia and Botswana on the transfer of sentenced persons has the combined objective of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of prisons and legal enforcement and is wholeheartedly welcomed.”
According to her, it provides Namibia and Botswana with an opportunity to come up with impactful and robust legislation for transfers.
Dienda said that the establishment of a framework within which Namibia and Botswana set out modalities on the transfer of confined persons allows Namibia the power to ensure Namibians in Botswana return home to be rehabilitated adequately for them to be returned to any society as changed persons.
Conditions to be discussed
She said that the agreement necessitates the creation of legislation that gives power to a relevant authority in Namibia to initiate the transfer of Namibian inmates to Namibia should they so wish or where such relevant authority deems fit.
Dienda, however, said that she has concerns with regard to the conditions of transfer talks.
“When will these conditions be agreed upon and will they be brought for Parliament’s approval?"
This is according to Elma Dienda, a Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament.
She made a statement in the National Assembly last week in support of an agreement between Namibia and Botswana on the transfer of sentenced persons.
She said that such an agreement will lead to the promulgation of effective legislation, which will allow Namibian inmates to be transferred from Botswana to Namibia to be rehabilitated in accordance with constitutional protections and international human rights treaties to which Namibia is a party to.
According to her, Namibians who are sentenced in Botswana need to be rehabilitated adequately for them to be returned to society as changed persons.
Cooperation
“We are not sure how incarcerated Namibians are treated in Botswana,” she said.
Dienda said it is worth considering that because Botswana has a “shoot to kill” policy and capital punishment is legal by virtue of section 203 of the penal code of Botswana, how will incarcerated non-nationals be treated within the prisons of Botswana?
“Will dignity be observed? Will international human rights be observed? Will the objective of rehabilitation be observed?”
She said that effective bilateral cooperation is essential to advancing Namibia’s external interests with Botswana within the correctional facilities arena.
Work together
Dienda said that bilateral cooperation is a key building block of international relations, covering relationships between the home country and individual foreign states.
“The Memorandum of Agreement entered into by and between Namibia and Botswana on the transfer of sentenced persons has the combined objective of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of prisons and legal enforcement and is wholeheartedly welcomed.”
According to her, it provides Namibia and Botswana with an opportunity to come up with impactful and robust legislation for transfers.
Dienda said that the establishment of a framework within which Namibia and Botswana set out modalities on the transfer of confined persons allows Namibia the power to ensure Namibians in Botswana return home to be rehabilitated adequately for them to be returned to any society as changed persons.
Conditions to be discussed
She said that the agreement necessitates the creation of legislation that gives power to a relevant authority in Namibia to initiate the transfer of Namibian inmates to Namibia should they so wish or where such relevant authority deems fit.
Dienda, however, said that she has concerns with regard to the conditions of transfer talks.
“When will these conditions be agreed upon and will they be brought for Parliament’s approval?"
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