Language motion provokes tribalism in parliament
Gothataone Moeng | Monday July 14, 2014 16:21
This was another illustration of the country’s unwillingness to rationally discuss the indigenous languages. The motion on the floor was Selebi-Phikwe West MP Gilson Saleshando’s request that the house resolve that state broadcasters Radio Botswana and Botswana Television (Btv) should get ready to start broadcasting news in other indigenous languages by January 2015.
Instead of dealing om the issue at hand, MPs degenerated into finger-pointing, accusing each other of tribalism, politicking and dismantling nationalist principles.
Leading the pack was Gaborone West South MP Botsalo Ntuane, who accused Saleshando of attempting to “Bantustanise” Botswana. Ntuane said he was “unequivocally opposed” to Saleshando’s motion and challenged each MP to state for the record what their opinion on the issue is, saying what it boiled down to was “nationalism” versus “tribalism.”
“The [Botswana Democratic Party] is not prepared to abandon the values and principles of nationalism. The [Botswana Congress Party] is a tribal pressure group masquerading as a political party. For the past three years or so, the BCP has been espousing tribalist motions and ideals, we are not prepared to dismantle everything we stand for as a nation,” Ntuane said.
He further said he opposed the motion on the basis that it is impractical, describing it as “impossible” to have Botswana’s more than 20 indigenous languages spoken on radio. He also said the language question was a “non-issue” in his constituency. Ntuane went further to say that there is more to Saleshando’s motion than just having news read in indigenous languages.
“Today it’s languages on radio, tomorrow it’s mother tongue, then it’s going to be that civil servants should serve in their areas of origin and next political representatives will only be able to represent their areas of origin. We need to be clear that we will not pander to tribalism. We are not prepared to turn Botswana into a Bantustan,” he said. “Go to Batswana and tell them you want to destroy and dismantle our founding principles,” he added.
Also opposing the motion for being “politically driven” was Tati East Moyo Guma, who said the motion was calculated for garnering votes in an electioneering year.
“This is not premised on building the nation. It’s politically driven, in an electioneering year. I am Ndebele-speaking, but I am a proud Motswana. What is critical for me is not the medium of communication, it’s whether we can understand each other. Do we have the same values, do we share commonalities?” he said.
The Minister of Lands and Housing Lebonaamang Mokalake had been the first to raise the furore when he stood to debate, saying that the motion was noble but then turning around to label Maun East MP Tawana Moremi’s support of the motion as “lying” and a “political game.”
“Rre Saleshando, do not be fooled. You and I both know that Tawana does not support this motion. When he was Chief of the Batawana, he refused to support the Bayeyi. Why is he supporting you today? This is just a political game,” Mokalake said.
Moremi had supported the motion, saying that Botswana should now move into a “second republic” or a second phase of nation-building that thrives in unity in diversity. He said the promotion of other indigenous languages could lead to the growth on other industries.
For his part Kanye North MP Kentse Rammidi said it was disappointing to see leaders labeling parties as tribalist.
“When I was still in the BDP, Bangwaketse used to ask me what I was doing in a Bangwato party. BDP is a Bangwato party, if you have money put in the Serowe Trust, the money will never be put in the Bathoen Trust,” he said.
He said that the BCP had every right to speak for marginalised tribes, whose languages are not recognised.
“I was part of the BDP when they hatched a plan to ensure that Dr Nasha would not win the elections, they thought she might end up being vice president, and she can’t because she is a Mongwaketse,” he said.
The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Dikgakgamatso Seretse called for caution and for MPs to respect Parliament.
“We do not differentiate Parliament and the Freedom Square. There are some issues we can joke about because they are not central to nation-building. When people were speaking, I felt scared. This is wrong, it’s irresponsible to be doing what we are doing. When it comes to nation building or breaking issues such as this, forget about politics, and focus on the nation,” he said. Debates on the motion were concluded, but Saleshando is expected to give his response next week, after which Parliament will vote for or against the motion.