Nchindo family demands apology, compensation from Botswana

The family of the late Nchindo brothers is demanding a formal apology and financial compensation from Botswana, following former president Mokgweetsi Masisi’s recent public statement regarding the 2020 killings.

Fishermen Tommy, Martin and Wamunyima Nchindo and their cousin, Sinvula Munyeme, were gunned down by the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) along the Chobe River on suspicion of being part of a poaching syndicate.

Masisi on Monday offered an apology during a public lecture hosted by the University of Namibia in Windhoek.

During the lecture, Masisi examined the shared historical foundations of Namibia-Botswana relations, key milestones since independence and future opportunities for cooperation in regional integration, peace and sustainable development.

Masisi apologised for the killing of the Nchindo brothers by the BDF.

“Botswana held an open and transparent inquest in respect to the unfortunate and regrettable shooting of the Nchindo brothers. We’re sorry for their loss of lives. We as leaders must take responsibility both in Botswana and Namibia to make sure that never happens again,” he said.

The late fishermen’s elder brother, George Nchindo, told The Namibian on Tuesday that Masisi apologising publicly to the Namibian nation and to them years after the incident does not hold water.

“If he was brave enough and apologised to the family personally by then, when the killings happened, it would have meant something. Furthermore, apologising without compensation alone is also not enough. We truly need compensation; the children of our brothers are suffering. Life is not the same for us because we lost four family members at once, as well as our mother. We are still in pain,” he said.

According to Nchindo, what pains them further is that they have not seen any form of punishment that the Botswana government took against the soldiers that killed his brothers and cousin.

He added that the culprits have moved on with their lives while they have taken so much from them.

“The inquest was also not fair because we were not allowed to have lawyers or ask questions freely,” he said.

Namibian Lives Matter movement chairperson Sinvula Mudabeti also criticises Masisi’s apology, saying that it is nothing more than political rhetoric.

He adds that the apology is a public relations stunt, as Masisi still continues to deny the existence of the shoot-to-kill policy.

“The denial of the shoot-to-kill policy is a clear sign that Botswana is founded on dishonesty. He calls genuine Namibian demands of justice noise. I think he went very low and too far. As a movement, we treat Masisi’s remarks towards the deaths of the Nchindo brothers as insensitive and misplaced. He lacks respect for Namibians. Masisi should learn that the truth will ultimately come out about the bogus inquest that Botswana held,” he says.

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