There is no place for tribalism in Botswana

| Thursday May 31, 2007 00:00

The recent agitation by various pressure groups, though accompanied by noble ideas, of equality and culture promotion brings with it the dangerous and explosive tribalism. The existence of the groups cannot be justified if they exist to dismantle what we have been building for the last four decades. We have to declare unanimously that there is no place for tribalism in our republic. We need to address the issues that enhance our democracy and agree to do away with the things that threaten our unity.

We have to bury the past, and let us focus on what we would like to leave behind for our future generations. We all need to ask ourselves, how does this affect my neighbor and I? I will make this real with a discussion of my personal experience. I grew up speaking Setswana. I also understand Seyei well because I was raised by my maternal grandmother - a descendant of a respected Bayei family. I was never a servant; to the contrary my great grandparents had servants from another tribe. Moreover, most of our herd boys and herd men were mostly from other tribes. I also grew up knowing that I am a Motawana.

The Bayei and the Batawana have lived together since the latter came to Ngamiland. The Batawana valued force and the Bayei possessed the current peaceful character of Botswana. Instead of fighting they lived together in harmony. The poor Bayei became servants while the rich Bayei lived with some influence. I guess the picture doesn't differ from the poor and rich relationship in our society now. According to Ramsay Kgosana Mokgwathi, a Moyei had some influence during the rivalry for chieftainship between Sekgoma and Mathiba. The only kgosi in the land was the Motawana kgosi, and according to the dictates of the law then he was a kgosi to all. Therefore, everybody was a Motawana entitled to the protection of the kgosi.

Even after independence Bayei have continued to live as Batawana, they were not servants if you consider that Salepito Salepito and Motsamai Mpho were elected into the National Assembly. This is not to deny some injustice that existed and described by the elderly Mpho. Kamanakao recently has agitated beyond what they should have asked for in calling all Bayei to denounce their Botawana. The elites should not force a chief on the unsuspecting majority whose feelings have been played upon. A harmonious relationship that existed for over two centuries should not end in a worthless rivalry.

To argue for rectification of tribal injustices of the past is perhaps as good as calling us to vacate the lands said to belong to Basarwa. It is like refusing to accept a president after a democratic election. In the past war was negotiation and war settled disputes, therefore, we cannot judge the past by the forms of measure we use today.

Unity calls for compromise. We have to keep Setswana as our second official language, a unifying language. I cannot imagine Botswana where I have to speak English in order to communicate to my fellow Motswana. Teaching many languages in school is an economic waste. The languages have continued to be spoken without formal education. Language pressure groups have to focus on the research of languages and culture promotion. The constitution should rule the land, and all mechanisms of state security should pledge allegiance to no one else but the supreme constitution of the republic.

The recently accepted representative form of bogosi should be made permanent so that every Motswana feels representated in Ntlo ya Dikgosi. Wherever there is a form of discrimination we have to act in obedience to the constitution, which alone guarantees equality to all.
 
Keneetswe B. Setlhare M.D.
PBL Instructor
Ross University School of Medicine