10 Nov 2026

Central to the discussions at the Second Ovambanderu National Conference in Tsabong, held under the theme:  Celebrating Uniqueness in Diversity: A Call for Nation Building, was the preservation of the Otjimbanderu language. 

Officiating at the conference, Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe acknowledged concerns raised by community representatives regarding the presence of Otjimbanderu in public broadcasting and national life. 

He assured the gathering that government was working to broaden the use of indigenous languages in media and was developing a national language policy in consultation with experts and local communities.

He called on elders, families, and young people to keep the language alive in daily conversation while leveraging digital tools to archive oral histories, proverbs and traditional knowledge. 

Addressing participants at the  conference on Saturday, Mr Gaolathe reflected on the 130-year journey of the Ovambanderu following their displacement from present-day Namibia in 1896.

 He said the resilience of the Ovambanderu people and their historic contribution to the country’s social and economic fabric cannot go unnoticed. He noted that despite facing immense hardship after the resistance led by Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva against German colonial rule, the community successfully rebuilt their lives across Ngamiland, Boteti, Tsabong, and other parts of Botswana.

He emphasised that their pastoral heritage, traditional attire, music, and the iconic Tjingirini flag remain living expressions of identity that enrich the nation.

Earlier in the proceedings, OvaMbanderu Traditional Authority Steering Committee chairperson, Mr Abia Kavei, outlined their key priorities.

These included reconnecting dispersed members across borders, fostering inclusivity among younger generations, evaluating progress made since their previous gathering in Ghanzi and promoting self-reliance through initiatives such as the OvaMbanderu Fund and local enterprise.ENDS