UB don accuses govt of forced assimilation

Lydia Saleshando, who is also the deputy vice-chancellor of student affairs at the University of Botswana, said the government continues to oppress non-Tswana speakers, who constitute 65 percent of the population, while Tswana speakers' make-up only 17 percent.

The 65 percent and 17 percent figures are estimates from the 2001 census results, she said.Speaking on Tuesday at a two-day broadcasting conference organised by the National Broadcasting Board (NBB) in Gaborone, Saleshando said the government has continually demonstrated fear of learning the "accurate linguistic landscape" of the country, by refusing to include a question on mother-tongue language in the population census questionnaires in the last three censuses.