01 Nov 2021

Ntlo ya  Dikgosi members have voted against the motion which seeks government to formulate a policy that will make it compulsory for public meetings to be addressed in Setswana.

When tabling the motion, Molepolole region representative Kgosi Mompoloki Motswagole argued that the use of Setswana language would not only make it popular but would encourage its use and create jobs for linguists who would be deployed to translate the message relayed into other vernaculars.

Kgosi Motswagole indicated that the proposed regulations would also enhance and preserve culture by promoting indigenous language through translation of Setswana in public meetings.
“As traditional leaders we need to promote and preserve the use of our indigenous languages and there is no better way to do so than advocating for their use in public meeting particularly during kgotla meetings,” he said.

He applauded government for commemorating the international mother tongue day saying it was a step in the right direction towards promoting indigenous languages.

However, responding to the motion, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development , Mr Setlhabelo Modukanele said the use of Setswana language alone was tantamount to discriminate the Setswana nonspeaking citizens  since there were almost eight tribes in Botswana that spoke languages unrelated to Setswana.

He said Botswana had adopted the English language as a matter of policy while Setswana was a national language.

The Assistant minister further noted that Section 61 of the constitution only highlighted the ability to speak and write English as a prerequisite to serve in the general assembly.

Mr Modukanele said the adoption of Setswana as a national language was primarily based on the popularity of the language across the country as it was spoken by many.

He said parliamentary standing orders also embraced  the  use  of both English and  Setswana as the medium of communication during both the national assemble and Ntlo ya Dikgosi meetings.

Meanwhile, Kgosi Oscar  Mosielele  of  Moshupa also tabled a motion requesting  government  to formulate a  policy that would make  it  compulsory for  paternity test to be  run on every child at  birth to avoid  frequent  court cases  over paternity. ENDS