From UN.org

Following an official visit to Botswana, the UN Special Rapporteur on cultural rights has called on the country to embark on a second phase of nation-building that reflects, builds on and celebrates its cultural diversity, stressing that issues relating to the recognition of communities as tribes must be addressed.

The Special Rapporteur, Farida Shaheed, said in a press release  that during her 13-day visit to Botswana, she shared her observations on cultural rights issues – such as the recognition of tribes, language rights, land rights, and the need to involve and engage with communities affected by Government policies – and identified a number of good practices and potential obstacles relating to the promotion and protection of cultural rights in the country.

“Unlike the eight Tswana tribes who have a guaranteed seat in the House of Chiefs, other communities do not,” she said, expressing concern that the adjudication system based on the Kgosis (chiefs) often leads to the dominant tribe imposing its customary law on all groups in a particular tribal territory in civil matters.

The Special Rapporteur – who is mandated to monitor the enjoyment of cultural rights – also identified language diversity as a possible area for improvement.

“While the use of Setswana as the national language has enabled most people in the country to communicate with each other, mother tongue education in the first years of schooling is certainly a way forward,” she said.

“The risk of further disadvantage incurred upon children in remote areas who have no or minimal exposure to Setswana in their families and communities, in particular those residing in hostels without family support systems, is significant,” she added.

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