I was born in Ghanzi, a township on the edge of the Ghanzi District. Growing up, I couldn’t help but notice that despite the town’s modest growth, many Basarwa people remain stuck in poverty with shacks forming the core of their temporary accommodation. The township, with a population of over 20,000 people, is a melting pot of various ethnic groups, yet the Basarwa people remain particularly marginalised. My curiosity deepened as I reflected on the Basarwa people’s enduring connection to their native land, now overshadowed by persistent poverty and marginalisation. Despite their ancestral ties, they remain displaced, while their land is increasingly exploited for resource extraction. This led me to question why their displacement has persisted for so long and how their land rights, central to their identity and survival, can be more effectively addressed.
Ghanzi is home to the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR), established in 1961, which was meant to protect both its rich ecosystem and the Basarwa communities residing there. Covering over 52,800 square kilometres in Botswana’s Ghanzi District, it remains one of Africa’s largest protected areas. However, this region is not just rich in wildlife; it is also abundant in minerals. The recent start of operations at Motheo Mine near Kuke Village and the numerous mining licences issued for exploration highlight a shift; what was once primarily home to the Basarwa is now increasingly a hub for resource extraction. As mineral exploration continues, this changing landscape raises important questions about the future of land rights for the Basarwa, whose ancestral lands are at the heart of this activity.
After Botswana gained independence, the Tribal Land Act of 1968 presented an opportunity to correct colonial injustices through land redistribution. However, this new policy failed to include every Motswana, most notably the Basarwa people. Despite their historical connection to the land, the Basarwa people were excluded from land allocation benefits granted to other recognized tribes. This exclusion was no accident; it reflected a long-standing systemic failure to recognize the Basarwa as a distinct tribe deserving of the same rights. The policies that were meant to ensure equitable land distribution instead perpetuated the marginalization of the Basarwa people, whose land was continuously treated as unclaimed despite their ancestral presence. This gap in policy raises crucial questions about representation, recognition, and justice for indigenous communities like the Basarwa people, who have been sidelined for too long in Botswana’s national development.
Today, the Government of Botswana continues to uphold policies that keep the Basarwa people marginalised from their ancestral lands within the CKGR. One such policy, the Rural Area Development Programme (RADP), was initially designed to support minority tribes, including the Basarwa, by improving their access to social services and economic opportunities. However, RADP operates on a model of relocation and integration into settled villages, which often separates indigenous communities from their traditional lands. By encouraging these relocations, the program unintentionally undermines the cultural and territorial rights of the Basarwa, as it fails to acknowledge their deep connection to the land.
Rather than providing the Basarwa with the means to maintain their autonomy and connection to the CKGR, policies like the RADP promote a form of development that prioritises modern settlements over indigenous ways of life. While the intentions behind such programs might be positive, their impact on the Basarwa continues to erode their dignity and identity. Empowering the Basarwa people requires a shift in approach—one that centres their land rights and cultural preservation, rather than imposing externally driven development models that strip them of their heritage. True progress will come from policies that recognize the unique relationship the Basarwa have with their land and provide them with the tools to reclaim and protect their ancestral territories.
In addressing the marginalisation of the Basarwa people, Botswana stands at a crucial crossroads. The policies intended to integrate and develop the Basarwa people have often undermined their cultural identity and displaced them from their ancestral lands. The CKGR was established to protect both the environment and the Basarwa people, yet resource extraction and relocation programs have left them with little control over their heritage. True empowerment of the Basarwa people requires policies that prioritise their land rights and cultural preservation, ensuring that they are not just included in Botswana’s development but are recognized as vital stewards of their own future. By centering their voices and experiences, Botswana can move toward a more inclusive and just society that respects both its indigenous communities and its natural resources.
By Modise Brilliant Kodie