There was a dramatic increase in the number of diamond concessions granted on the Bushmen's land in the year that they were evicted, Botswana's high court heard this week. At the same time, the number of licences issued elsewhere in the country actually fell.
The permanent secretary in the mining ministry, Dr Akolang Tombale, claimed that it came as a complete surprise to the government that there was a sudden surge in the number of licences issued on Bushman land.
The number of diamond exploration licences more than trebled from 18 in 2000 to 62 in 2002, the year the last 700 Gana and Gwi Bushmen were expelled from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Evictions linked to diamond concessions
August 19, 2005
Related news articles
- Bushmen anger as beloved elder refused burial in Botswana game reserve - Mon April 25, 2022
- Kalahari Bushmen appeal to Dalai Lama - Fri August 11, 2017
- Twentieth anniversary of eviction from Kalahari highlights Bushmen plight - Fri May 05, 2017
- Botswana defies its courts on historic anniversary - Tue December 13, 2016
Most recent
- Global protests mark int’l day of action to #SaveHasdeo - Mon May 09, 2022
- Bushmen anger as beloved elder refused burial in Botswana game reserve - Mon April 25, 2022
- Venezuela and Brazil: Violence and destruction escalate in the Yanomami territory - Tue April 19, 2022
- India: massive coal mining expansion in tribal forests green-lighted - Wed April 13, 2022