Indigenous Peoples and Africans are under threat from Recon Africa and Big Oil and Gas Development
Permits have been issued to prospect, drill and ultimately extract oil and gas over 8.75 million acres of the Kalahari Desert in Namibia and Botswana extending to the south eastern banks of the Okavango River and Okavango Delta. The permits are held by inter-linked companies: In Namibia Canadian Reconnaissance Oil and Gas (ReConAfrica), registered as Reconnaissance Energy Namibia (PTY) LTD and in Botswana Craig Steinke of Renaissance Oil Corporation. ReConAfrica anticipate both conventional and unconventional e.g. (fracking) methods will be used to extract the oil and gas from the shale rock basin. On the 10 January ReconAfrica commenced drilling operations on the first well (6-2) located in Kawe in the Omatako riverbed, which supplies the Okavango Delta.
Not only is this an area of unique beauty and globally important ecosystem, but also the last remaining sacred lands that continue to sustain and tell the origin stories of the world’s first people, the San.
In protest a group of San indigenous leaders and supporters are embarking on a walk following traditional routes from Knysna to Cape Town starting on the 1 February 2021. The group are raising support and signatures for an objection to the petroleum developments which will be delivered to the governments of Botswana and Namibia, and other international institutions. ou can read the objection here.
Show your support in the following ways:
- If you are representing a San or Khoe indigenous community or represent a global indigenous or civil society organisation and would like to formally sign onto and support the objection that will be delivered at the end of the walk please complete this form.
- If you would like to support the San in saying no to oil and gas drilling in the Kavango please sign the online petition here.
- If you would like to follow the campaign please like the Facebook page: Frack Free Namibia and Botswana.
- If you would like to follow the progress of the walkers please join the Facebook group: Khoe, San & Friends: Walk to save the Okavango Delta or follow the hashtag #indigiwalk on social media.
- Watch the presentation from the #indigiwalk walkers where journalist Jeff Barbee explains what is actually happening with the Okavango Delta and the possible consequences of oil and gas drilling here:
For interviews or more information please contact:
Q. Beckett, San youth leader on +27 72 050 1835, or email Sharri from First People Southern Africa on indigiyouthexchange@gmail.com
#indigiwalk #SaveTheSan #TheSanWontMove #SaveTheOkavangoDelta
