Use SADC languages to promote regional integration - Prof Saleshando

Saleshando was speaking at the opening of a two-day seminar on regional integration within SADC in Gaborone yesterday. The seminar, which continues today, is being held under the theme "Languages as Tools of Regional Integration in the SADC Region," focusing on French, English and Portuguese as the three official languages of the region.

Saleshando said SADC needed to reflect on the use of the more than 570 languages spoken in the region, with emphasis on official, national, cross-border and community levels, in order to promote efficient communication and foster effective regional integration.She said cross-border languages were particularly important for trade by small businesspeople and for education. These languages include Setswana, Chinyanja, Kiswahili and Lingala, which are spoken in several African countries, as well as Mbukushu, Sheyeyi, Subia and Herero which are spoken between Namibia and Botswana.