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Namibian Refugees Refuse to Leave Botswana

Mqondisi Dube

   GABORONE, BOTSWANA - More than 800 Namibian refugees in Botswana have
   vowed to stay put despite a court ruling saying they must return to
   their country, 20 years after fleeing following a secessionist
   uprising.

   Felix Kalula and hundreds of other Namibian refugees fled to Botswana
   in 1999, after violent clashes with Namibian government forces broke
   out over the disputed Caprivi strip, which wanted to secede from the
   rest of the country.

   The Namibian and Botswana governments say it is safe for the refugees
   to return home, and the migrants have until Aug. 31 to leave. But
   Kalula says the issues that made them flee have not been resolved.

   "Some of our colleagues are still in prison since 1999, and many of
   them died in prison," he said, adding that refugees have been asking
   for dialogue with the Namibian government, but the opportunity has not
   been afforded.

   Kalula was a member of the secessionist party, the United Democratic
   Party, which remains banned in Namibia as the Caprivi residents were
   willing to use force to gain independence.

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