HC Deb 30 May 1961 vol 641 cc8-9W
Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (1) if the decision to demarcate 19,000 square mile reserves for the bushmen of the Bechuanaland Protectorate has his approval; and what legislation is being brought forward to make this land secure for them;

(2) if bushmen of the Bechuanaland Protectorate at present living outside the proposed reserves will have their customary rights preserved in areas where they have lived;

(3) what financial provisions are to be made for sinking wells and bore holes in the proposed reserves for the bushmen of the Bechuanaland Protectorate; and what provision is proposed to give the bushmen help in establishing themselves as agriculturalists and stock owners When they want to make this change in their way of life.

Mr. Sandys

The answer to the first part of the first Question is "Yes", and to the second part that legislation is at present not considered necessary as a demarcated area (of approximately 19,000 square miles) in the eastern part of Ghanzi Crown Lands, Bechuanaland Protectorate, has been declared a Reserve, to be known as "The Central Kalahari Game Reserve" under subsection (1) of section five of the Game Proclamation (Chapter 114 of the Laws of the Bechuanaland Protectorate, 1948). Detailed regulations are being prepared which will control the entry into this area of persons other than bushmen.

Bushmen living outside the new Reserve will continue to exercise customary rights in those areas where they have not adopted the Bechuana way of life. In areas where they follow closely the Bechuana way of life bushmen are subject to the same laws as govern other inhabitants of Tribal areas.

A preliminary survey of potential bore holes in the Game Reserve area is to be made soon.

In general the Government's policy is to enable bushmen to retain their present way of life undisturbed and where they wish to abandon primitive life, to encourage them to adapt themselves to modern conditions. The detailed application of this policy, however, will depend in large measure upon the recommendations of the comprehensive bushmen survey now being conducted.