Language motion provokes tribalism in parliament

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.