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| Bushman child, CKGR, Botswana 2004
© 2004 Stephen Corry/Survival |
The Gana and Gwi Bushmen
return to court tomorrow with their case against the government of
Botswana, 160 days after the government sealed off their reserve to the
outside world.
The Bushmen are fighting for their right to return to their land in the
Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and to hunt and gather freely. They
first filed the case in April 2002, following the evictions in February
that year, but it was thrown out on a technicality. The Bushmen
appealed and won the right to have the case heard, and it began in July
2004 in Botswana's high court. It has since faced long delays, and is
already the longest and most expensive legal case in Botswana's history.
On 1 September last year, the government closed the Central Kalahari
Game Reserve, and placed armed guards at the Bushman settlements inside
the reserve. The entire communities of Molapo and Mothomelo have been
evicted, while those remaining at Metsiamenong are prevented from
obtaining food and water. One woman has died of starvation and shock.
