Namibia: Indigenous groups' long road to claim their rights

Zimbabwe: San elders make anti-discrimination case before minister, receive children's learning materials in symbolic act

On Sunday 4 November 2012, the Co-Minister in charge of National Healing and Reconciliation, the Honorable Moses Mzila Ndlovu, met about 180 San elders in Tsholotsho, Gariya Community Centre in Tsholotsho Ward 10.

The one-on-one meeting, itself a rarity with a senior government official, discussed key issues affecting the San, inluding;

The San discrimination,

Lack of access to clean water, education and health services,

Discriminatory marriage practices affecting the San,

Lack of San leadership (both traditional and elected),

Access to land and land ownership rights for the San,

Need for the San to benefit from rock paintings in Matobo,

Need for a truth and reparation process on the massive displacements of the San by the past governments.

The meeting was organized by Tsoro-o-tso San Development Trust, a San community-based organization that empowers the San people to meaningfully participate in decision making, control of resources, safeguard cultural heritage, promote human rights and sustainable livelihoods.

The Minister also donated toys and pre-school material to support a community-led and owned Early Childhood Development Centre in Gariya (see picture).

The San, also known as ‘bushmen’, are a once nomadic hunter-gatherer community, who are now settled in Southern Africa. They continue to face exclusion and discrimination by national governments. Much of their land has been appropriated by government and there is reluctance to resettle them.

For more inforamtion contact:

Tsoro-o-tso San Development Trust

+263 733339033

Eemail: tsorootsosantrust@gmail.com