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News Sport Weather World Service Languages Low Graphics version | Change edition About BBC News | Feedback | Help News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Science/Nature Technology Entertainment ----------------- Have Your Say In Pictures Week at a Glance Country Profiles In Depth Programmes LANGUAGES MORE > Last Updated: Sunday, 11 July, 2004, 13:45 GMT 14:45 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Botswana bushmen seek redress By Alistair Leithead Central Kalahari Game Reserve The bushmen's way of life has changed A group of bushmen from Botswana who claim the government illegally evicted them from their ancestral lands take their case to court on Monday. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve used to be home to thousands of bushmen, widely accepted as the indigenous people of Botswana. Now only 100 or so remain after a government resettlement programme. The government says it could no longer afford to provide services to the bushmen in remote parts of the desert. 'Homes burnt' The case is due to begin at a temporary courtroom in New Xade, the biggest of the villages outside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, where the bushmen have been relocated to. Representatives of the Basarwa community - as they are known in Botswana - will describe how water supplies were cut off by the government to force them out of the reserve, and houses were burned down. The Basarwa community is recognised by many internationally as the indigenous people and claim a right to stay on their ancestral land. But the government argues it has become just too expensive to provide services such as water supplies to remote parts of the Kalahari, and that they need to be moved to more accessible areas where education and support can be provided. Reserve visit The judges, lawyers and court officials spent four days travelling through the reserve to establish how the bushmen live today ahead of the case. It is clear they no longer live a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle, and keep domesticated animals in the reserve - something the government says is to the detriment of the wildlife and should not be allowed in the reserve. The case is expected to drag on for many weeks; the President of Botswana, who has appointed one of his special advisers to fight the government's case, said if they lost they would appeal until they emerged victorious. E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE AFRICA STORIES SelectSudan and Chad agree Darfur movesFund projects 'missing targets'Botswana bushmen seek redressCongo excluded from diamond tradeEx-minister loses genocide appealNew body for Kenya footballAids drugs aim 'will not be met'Togo exile granted travel permitSierra Leone star diesItaly urged to let migrants landAnnan urges calm reform in KenyaClashes near DR Congo gold mineLibya 'threat' on terror suspect'Cocaine ship' seized in TogoNigerian police battle airmenZimbabwe's harvest 'insufficient'SA to host Africa's parliamentPolice shoot Kenyan protestersZimbabwe bishop slams leadersDo you have Aids fatigue?Tourists discover Mozambique beautyA mobile vision for AfricaDo you have a story to tell?Programmes and schedules  SEE ALSO: Kalahari bushmen fight eviction 05 Jul 04  |  Africa Bushmen take Botswana to court 27 Mar 02  |  Africa Botswana cuts Bushman services 23 Jan 02  |  Africa Losing battle for Kalahari 19 Jul 01  |  Africa In pictures: End of a way of life 04 Feb 02  |  Africa 'Bushmen' marginalised in South Africa 02 Apr 01  |  Africa RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Government of Botswana Survival International The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP AFRICA STORIES NOW Sudan and Chad agree Darfur moves Fund projects 'missing targets' Botswana bushmen seek redress Congo excluded from diamond trade News alerts | E-mail services | Desktop ticker | Mobiles/PDAs Back to top ^^ News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes BBC Homepage >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | BBC World Service >> About BBC News | Help | Feedback | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | About the BBC

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