Botswana is reportedly one of Africa’s ‘most stable
countries.’1 It has grown from one of the poorest nations of
the world into an economic success story. Good economic
policies have resulted in Botswana being one of the fastest
growing economies in Africa and it is now classified by the
World Bank as a middle income country.2 It is a multiparty
democracy and elections are held every five years. Botswana
is also well known for its adherence to the rule of law,
human rights and good governance. In its 2008 report,
Transparency International,3 an international civil society
organization based in Berlin, rated Botswana as 36th out of
180 countries, with a corruption index of 5.8, an indication
that it is one of the least corrupt countries in Africa.
In sharp contrast to this image, Botswana laws permit
discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, language and
culture. The goal at independence was to assimilate all
ethnic groups into the Tswana culture and create a monoethnic
state, a model found in most British colonies.
Specifically, these laws are a) Sections 77 to 79, 15 (4)
(d), 15 (9) of the Constitution; b) Section 2 of the
Chieftainship Act4 and c) the Tribal Territories Act.
Agitation against these assimilation laws and distribution of
wealth has been expressed since 1969.
The consequences of this colonial arrangement are still
seen in Botswana today. Eight Tswana tribes (a numerical
minority in the country,) continue to enjoy the privileges
associated with official recognition, whilst many of the
other 38 tribes have experienced culture and language loss,
disproportionate poverty, and invisibility on the national
scene.5
But though assimilation policies are still in place, there
are indications of a slow shift in practice towards
recognizing minorities and the value of cultural diversity.6
The new President Seretse Khama Ian Khama, son of
Botswana’s independence leader, who took office in April
2008, appears to have a new vision for Botswana. He is on
record as saying, ‘My Government’s position is that our
arts, culture and heritage must be celebrated nationwide so
that we can all truly enjoy our unity in diversity.’7 This
recognition of the value of Botswana’s diversity is a welcome
one, but must be backed up by action and key reforms.
The purpose of this briefing is to highlight the plight of
the non-Tswana ethnic groups. It argues a positive case for
recognizing minority rights by showing that diversity can
unite a nation, as well as assist in economic progress,
consolidate a peaceful society and lead to a more vibrant
democracy. This briefing deals firstly with the history of
Tswana hegemony, and the mechanisms which continue to
perpetrate it. It then looks at the consequences of nonrecognition
on the other minority tribes and the efforts
which have been made to secure the equal treatment of all
Botswana’s citizens.