Kudos to gov’t for multilingual newscast

Mmegi Editor | Monday October 6, 2025 06:31

It is a powerful affirmation of national identity and a long-overdue nod to the rich tapestry of cultures that make up this nation. As such, the government deserves our wholehearted congratulations for the bold and necessary move towards a more inclusive Botswana.

For far too long, the full spectrum of languages spoken across our country has been missing from our national media. This initiative just seeks to correct that imbalance. It acknowledges a simple but vital truth, that access to information in one’s mother tongue is not a privilege, but a fundamental right. When citizens can understand news about government policies, community events, and national affairs in the language they think and feel in, they are better informed, more engaged, and truly part of the national conversation. This move strengthens our democracy by ensuring no one is left behind.

As President Duma Boko rightly stated, this is about inclusion. It sends a clear message to every community that their heritage is valued and that their language is a vital strand in the national story. It preserves cultural identity, ensuring that proverbs, histories, and unique ways of understanding the world are not lost to the passage of time. By hearing these languages on national platforms, we all gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity that strengthens us.

However, this excellent beginning must not be the end of the journey. Broadcasting is one thing; entrenching and empowering these languages for future generations is another consideration. The President’s hope that these indigenous languages will one day be taught in schools is the crucial next step. We must now channel this momentum into our education system.

Introducing these languages into the school curriculum is the natural and essential progression. It would transform them from subjects of cultural preservation into living, dynamic tools for the future. Learning in one’s mother tongue in the early years significantly improves literacy and cognitive development. Furthermore, it fosters immense pride in young Batswana, showing them that their heritage is not just something from their grandparents’ time, but a valued asset in the modern world. Multilingualism is also a key skill in the global economy, and by nurturing our own languages, we equip our children with a unique advantage.

Let this bold move by the Department of Broadcasting Services be the catalyst for a wider national policy. Let us invest in teacher training, develop learning materials, and proudly integrate Ikalanga, Sekgalagadi, Sheyeyi, Naro, and other languages into the heart of our education system. The government has taken a magnificent first step. Let us all now support them in taking the next, ensuring that every Motswana child can not only hear their history on the news but can also read, write, and build their future in the language of their heart.