Botswana: Bushmen Court Ruling Online

Botswana: Bushmen Court Ruling Online

A copy of the landmark ruling made by the Botswana High Court in the case of the Kalahari Bushmen against the Botswana government is now available online.

The court ruled that the Botswana government's eviction of the Bushmen was 'unlawful and unconstitutional', and that they have the right to live on their ancestral land inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

The court also ruled that the Bushmen applicants have the right to hunt and gather in the reserve, and should not have to apply for permits to enter it.

One of the judges, Justice Phumaphi, said the government's refusal to allow the Bushmen to hunt 'was tantamount to condemning the residents of the CKGR to death by starvation.'

To download the ruling as a pdf or Word document click here

An online press file about the court case, including summaries, biographies, legal precedents, photos and video clips, is available here

ENDS

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