WRITTEN QUESTION P-1645/96 by Maartje van Putten (PSE) to the Commission (12 June 1996)

Subject: Possible eviction of Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The First Peoples of the Kalahari, an organization of Bushmen from Botswana, has expressed its concern over the possible eviction of 1000 Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

It is said that the Botswana Government has presented a proposal to the European Commission to fund a Land Use Development Plan for the area which would support the further eviction of the Bushmen.

Has the Commission been engaged in negotiations on this proposal, and what was the outcome?

Is the Commission aware of the wish of the Bushmen to continue to live within the Game Reserve, and how has the Commission taken into account the interest of the Bushmen?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (2 July 1996)

The Central Kalahari game reserve (CKGR) is located in the centre of Botswana and covers an area of 52577 square kilometres. It is the largest reserved land area in the country. It was established in 1961

to protect wildlife and reserve land for traditional use by hunter gatherer communities (Bushmen, Kwe, Khoisan). Whilst these dual objectives have been maintained in the early years after independence in 1966, it has become apparent that the socioeconomic development and the aspirations of the Bushmen in the reserve have introduced a complicating factor, i.e. the provision of economic and social services to fixed settlements, that is incompatible with the objectives of the reserve.

The present resident population of the reserve is estimated at 1000 people, distributed in a major settlement, Xade, near the western border of the reserve with about 500 people and 6 other small settlements. In Xade there is a primary school, a clinic and a borehole. The government also provides potable water to the other settlements. It is estimated that today none of the inhabitants of the reserve pursues the original, ancestral way of life. They keep small stock and poultry, cultivate small fields of sorghum and millet when the weather conditions are suitable and only occasionally are involved in hunting (through a special hunting licences allocation) and gathering.

Recently, the government of Botswana has taken the line that those inhabitants of the reserve who wish to rear cattle would be offered opportunities for resettlement outside the reserve to the centre West as well as to the South East and North East. Those who would wish to stay inside the reserve would be expected to settle at Xade where infrastructure is existing. A government task force has been set up to deal with all the matters related to the new settlements. This government decision has lead some organizations like the First people of the Kalahari to spread worldwide their fears and perception that the Bushmen of the Kalahari are going to be evicted.

The ambassadors of Sweden and the United States together with the British High commissioner, the Norwegian chargé d'affairs and an official of the delegation of the Commission in Gaborone visited the area on the 22-23 May 1996 and were assured by the government representatives that not only no forcible resettlement will be carried out but social services to the people who wish to stay in the reserve will not be discontinued and economic development related to wildlife or tourism activities will also be encouraged. The same terms were also confirmed by the minister of commerce and industry and the minister for Local government, land and housing at a briefing for all the diplomats accredited to Botswana held on 30 May 1996.

It is not correct to say that the Botswana government has presented a proposal to the Commission to fund a land use development plan for the area. The Commission is currently funding through the European development fund (EDF) a project entitled 'Wildlife conservation in Central and Southern Botswana' for an amount of 6.4 MECU. The purpose of the project is to support the management of the protected areas, among those the CKGR and to increase the involvement of local communities in the sustainable exploitation of natural resources. A management plan for the CKGR is currently in preparation. It is expected that the plan will divide the reserve in different areas or zones in which different activities such as tourism, hunting, human settlements, gathering, are either permitted or banned.

The Commission is well aware of the wish of some of the present settlers living in the reserve to remain there. It is also aware of the wish of some other settlers to be involved in cattle rearing and therefore it welcomes the government decision to create new settlements outside. The above mentioned EDF project earmarks some funds for local communities involved in resources utilisation and tourism activities. The Bushmen living in the reserve could be therefore the first beneficiaries of this project component.