Xenophobia among Batswana must go now
Friday, March 27, 2015
It is no wonder that in 1905 there were 1,000 Batswana in primary and secondary school according to Professor Lone Ketsitlile, a BIUST Professor and Mogae Institute research associate. It is no wonder that literacy and the globalism it encouraged was a family cultural value Khama III passed down to his wives and to his descendants.
It is no accident but within the tradition of family values that Khama III’s grandson, the future first President Sir Seretse Khama, found himself as a rare African studying at Oxford in the late 1940s and 1950s and was cosmopolitan and independent enough to marry a non-African which caused such a fervor amongst racist whites and traditional blacks, including members of his own family.
While his leadership has brought about significant progress and development, it is imperative that he exercises greater caution in his choice of words, particularly when addressing sensitive matters.One of the primary concerns is the potential impact of his remarks on Botswana’s relationship with De Beers, the diamond mining giant that plays a crucial role in the nation’s economy.The partnership between Botswana and De Beers has been mutually...