The Associated Press: Court denies Kalahari Bushmen water rights: GABORONE, Botswana — A court in Botswana ruled Wednesday that indigenous dwellers in one of the driest parts of the world will not be allowed to drill wells for water.
The Botswana High Court said the Bushmen people were not entitled to use a well already established on their traditional land in the Kalahari Game Reserve or excavate a new one.
The government has argued that the Bushmen's presence in the reserve is not compatible with preserving wildlife and that living in such harsh conditions offers few prospects.
In 2006, another court allowed the Bushmen to return to desert-like homelands where diamond mining claims and a new luxury tourist lodge led to their eviction by the government.
Hundreds returned and their leaders protested that they were denied water to drive them away again.
After the ruling Wednesday, community spokesman Jumanda Gakelebone said they will seek legal advice to fight the ruling.
'It's a sad day,' he said. 'If we don't have water, how are we expected to live?'
