Two poachers shot dead
Two suspected poachers, believed to be Namibians, were shot dead by members of the Botswana Defence Force on Sunday.
According to reports emanating from Botswana, the two were killed while tracking a wounded rhino they had shot in the Moremi Game Reserve.
A spokesperson of the Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital confirmed to Namibian Sun that the facility's mortuary was keeping the bodies of the two suspected poachers but could not confirm their nationalities.
She referred Namibian Sun to the Maun police station where its acting chief Superintendent Samuel Kgomo was not reachable. Kgomo was, however, quoted telling the INK Centre for Investigative Journalism that the two poachers were killed on the spot by the BDF anti-poaching unit near Mombo Camp.
“As expected, poachers came chasing after the rhino. The BDF officers did not waste time as they killed the two poachers on the spot,” Kgomo was quoted as saying.
Zambezi police head, Karel Theron, when contacted for comment also confirmed hearing about the incident but was not sure about the nationalities of the suspects.
“That one I cannot give you any information because the incident happened in Botswana not in Namibia, I don't have any information on that one. I also just received a message last night through WhatsApp but it happened in Botswana not in Namibia. The only thing they said was apparently, they also don't know if they are Namibians. I have no idea,” Theron said.
Commenting on Botswana's shoot-to-kill-policy towards suspected poachers, spokesperson of the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, said it is unfortunate that Namibians continue to lose their lives at the hands of armed forces in Botswana.
He added, however, that Namibians keep risking their lives, knowing the strict policies that Botswana follows to shoot poachers on sight.
“We are sympathetic towards the loss of lives, but Namibians should refrain from crossing over the border and poaching. It is bad what happened. But it could have been avoided,” said Muyunda.
Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga confirmed that he was informed that about the incident in Botswana, but said that he had not received confirmation that the two poachers were indeed Namibians.
“The allegations are that suspected poachers opened fire on the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and they retaliated. In this incident it is therefore an exchange of fire and the BDF shot in self-defence,” said Ndeitunga.
Botswana's unwritten shoot-to-kill policy has claimed the lives of many suspected poachers from Namibia before. The INK Centre for Investigative Journalism also reported in 2016 that about 30 Namibians and at least 22 Zimbabweans have been killed in Botswana anti-poaching operations.
ELLANIE SMIT AND KENYA KAMBOWE
According to reports emanating from Botswana, the two were killed while tracking a wounded rhino they had shot in the Moremi Game Reserve.
A spokesperson of the Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital confirmed to Namibian Sun that the facility's mortuary was keeping the bodies of the two suspected poachers but could not confirm their nationalities.
She referred Namibian Sun to the Maun police station where its acting chief Superintendent Samuel Kgomo was not reachable. Kgomo was, however, quoted telling the INK Centre for Investigative Journalism that the two poachers were killed on the spot by the BDF anti-poaching unit near Mombo Camp.
“As expected, poachers came chasing after the rhino. The BDF officers did not waste time as they killed the two poachers on the spot,” Kgomo was quoted as saying.
Zambezi police head, Karel Theron, when contacted for comment also confirmed hearing about the incident but was not sure about the nationalities of the suspects.
“That one I cannot give you any information because the incident happened in Botswana not in Namibia, I don't have any information on that one. I also just received a message last night through WhatsApp but it happened in Botswana not in Namibia. The only thing they said was apparently, they also don't know if they are Namibians. I have no idea,” Theron said.
Commenting on Botswana's shoot-to-kill-policy towards suspected poachers, spokesperson of the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, said it is unfortunate that Namibians continue to lose their lives at the hands of armed forces in Botswana.
He added, however, that Namibians keep risking their lives, knowing the strict policies that Botswana follows to shoot poachers on sight.
“We are sympathetic towards the loss of lives, but Namibians should refrain from crossing over the border and poaching. It is bad what happened. But it could have been avoided,” said Muyunda.
Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga confirmed that he was informed that about the incident in Botswana, but said that he had not received confirmation that the two poachers were indeed Namibians.
“The allegations are that suspected poachers opened fire on the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and they retaliated. In this incident it is therefore an exchange of fire and the BDF shot in self-defence,” said Ndeitunga.
Botswana's unwritten shoot-to-kill policy has claimed the lives of many suspected poachers from Namibia before. The INK Centre for Investigative Journalism also reported in 2016 that about 30 Namibians and at least 22 Zimbabweans have been killed in Botswana anti-poaching operations.
ELLANIE SMIT AND KENYA KAMBOWE
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