Botswanan Bushmen denied right to drill wells

A COURT in Botswana has ruled that indigenous dwellers in one of the driest parts of the world will not be allowed to drill wells for water.

The Botswana High Court yesterday said the Bushmen people were not entitled to use a well already established on their traditional land in the Kalahari Game Reserve or excavate a new one.

The government has argued that the Bushmen's presence in the reserve is not compatible with preserving wildlife and that living in such harsh conditions offers few prospects.

In 2006, another court allowed the Bushmen to return to desert-like homelands where diamond mining claims and a new luxury tourist lodge led to their eviction by the government. Hundreds returned and their leaders protested that they were denied water to drive them away again.

After the ruling, community spokesman Jumanda Gakelebone said they would fight the ruling. "It's a sad day," he said. "If we don't have water, how are we expected to live?"

He said a tourist lodge with a swimming pool and a bar and wells at diamond claims lay just a few miles from Bushmen settlements. He said watering holes for wild animals were paid for by diamond and tourist firms, but Bushmen were prevented from carrying water into the game park for their families.

Survival International, an international support group for indigenous peoples, condemned the ruling.

"In the last ten years, Botswana has become one of the harshest places in the world for indigenous peoples. If Bushmen are to be denied water on their lands when it is freely provided for tourists, animals and diamond mines, then foreigners should be asked if they really want to support this regime with their visits and jewellery shopping," said group director Stephen Corry.