wfn.org | Churches in Botswana, Namibia try to diffuse tension

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

       in border disputes

KEMPTON PARK, South Africa/GENEVA, 16 April 1998 (lwi) - The Council of
Churches in Namibia (CCN) and the Botswana Christian Council (BCC) are
jointly attempting to diffuse tension in the border disputes between
Botswana and Namibia. The general secretaries of the two national Christian
umbrella organizations have appealed to the governments of both countries
to disclose all facts and enable open access to officials responsible for
dealing with the matter.

Delegations from the organizations in Botswana and Namibia visited the
Sedudu (Kasikili Islands) and Linyanti (Setungu Islands) rivers, which are
at the core of the disputes between the two countries, during their April
2-3 meeting in Johannesburg. Both governments were invited to brief members
of the delegations about events leading up to the disagreement. But there
were no Namibian government representatives. The government of Botswana
provided logistical support including technical briefing.

Preparatory work for the meeting was carried out by general secretary of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Ishmael Noko. When asked to comment on
the dispute Noko observed from his discussions with the presidents of both
countries, Dr. Sam Nujoma, Namibia, and now former president, Ketumile
Masire, Botswana, that they were willing to politically and
administratively impress upon their people that tension between the two
countries must be reduced.

In their final communique, CCN general secretary, Ngeno Nakamhela, and BCC
general secretary, David Modiega, recall that families have lived "on both
sides of the border in peace" and said it is imperative that everything be
done to promote peaceful coexistence in the foreseeable future.

The two councils have committed themselves to an exchange of visits. On
such occasions they will seek audiences with the respective state
authorities. Unless the tensions are diffused, the end result could be an
unwanted and wasteful war, Noko warns.

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/