The Bushman tribe, or San people, has won a legal battle for land rights in Botswana, allowing them to return to their ancestral lands in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The tribe had been forcibly removed from their lands in the 1990s, with the government arguing that they were protecting wildlife and resources. The Bushman people claimed that they had lived sustainably in the game reserve for thousands of years. After more than two decades of legal battles, the Botswana court ruled in their favor in 2006. In 2011, the court of appeals ordered the government to allow the Bushman people to return to their land.

Bushman tribe in Botswana wins legal battle for land rights

The Bushman tribe, also known as the San people, is one of the oldest indigenous groups in southern Africa. They had lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers for centuries, until they were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in Botswana in the 1990s.

Since then, the Bushman people have been fighting for their right to return to their land, and a recent court ruling has finally granted them that right.

The legal battle for land rights

The Bushman tribe’s legal battle began in 2002 when the Botswana government decided to block their access to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), where they used to live and hunt.

The government claimed that it was necessary to protect the park’s wildlife and prevent overuse of resources, but the Bushman people argued that they had been living sustainably in the CKGR for thousands of years.

The Bushman people took their case to court, and after a prolonged legal battle, the Botswana High Court ruled in their favor in 2006. The court ruled that the government’s decision to evict the Bushman people from the CKGR was unlawful and unconstitutional.

However, the government refused to comply with the court’s ruling and continued to deny the Bushman people access to the CKGR. In 2011, the Botswana Court of Appeal upheld the previous ruling and ordered the government to allow the Bushman people to return to their land.

After more than two decades of struggle, the Bushman people have finally won their legal battle for land rights.

The significance of the ruling

The Bushman tribe’s legal victory is a significant milestone in the fight for indigenous land rights. The ruling sets a precedent for other indigenous communities in Africa and around the world who have been dispossessed of their land by colonialism and government policies.

It also highlights the importance of recognizing the rights of indigenous people to self-determination and to their cultural and ancestral practices.

The ruling has been celebrated by human rights organizations, including Survival International, which has been campaigning for the Bushman people’s land rights for many years.

FAQs

What is the Central Kalahari Game Reserve?

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) is a national park in Botswana that covers an area of over 50,000 square kilometers. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and elephants.

What is the Bushman tribe?

The Bushman tribe, also known as the San people, is a group of indigenous hunter-gatherers who have lived in southern Africa for thousands of years.

Why were the Bushman people forcibly removed from their land?

The Bushman people were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in the 1990s by the Botswana government, which claimed that it was necessary to protect the wildlife and prevent overuse of resources.

How long did the Bushman people’s legal battle for land rights last?

The Bushman people’s legal battle for land rights lasted more than two decades, from 2002 to 2021.

What is the significance of the ruling?

The ruling is a significant milestone in the fight for indigenous land rights and sets a precedent for other indigenous communities around the world. It also highlights the importance of recognizing the rights of indigenous people to self-determination and to their cultural and ancestral practices.