The government of Botswana is close to approving a bill that will remove a clause
from its national constitution that provides for the protection of the San residing
in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The clause states that the government can
restrict the general public's right to move freely within certain areas of Botswana
in order to protect the well-being of the San. The government claims that the
bill is aimed at making the constitution "tribally neutral," but the
San and their supporters argue that the bill will undermine a court case challenging
the forced removal of the San from the reserve, which is partially based on the
clause in question. First People of the Kalahari spokesman Jumanda Gakelebone
told Business Day: "This section was included in the constitution to give
us protection. Now we are trying to rely on the section for the first time in
history." Gakelebone said that government efforts to change the clause now
are likely not coincidental.
