Basarwa demand equal rights

KITSO RAMONO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

The Basarwa community has called on government to grant them full recognition under Botswana’s laws, insisting that they deserve equal access to justice, services and development like any other citizen.

The demands were raised during a two-week mission by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Dr. Albert Barume, who concluded his first official visit to Botswana on Friday. His trip, which ran from September 1–12, focused on engaging with indigenous communities and assessing their concerns.

Among the Basarwa’s key appeals are recognition of their chiefs under the Bogosi Act, representation in the House of Chiefs, and the right to use their tribal names instead of the collective label Basarwa, which many regard as belittling.