Charles Tibone
Tati West Member of Parliament Charles Tibone has thrown his weight behind those advocating for the use Kalanga as an official lingo in Botswana.
Encouraging Bakalanga tribe to continue fighting for the recognition of their language as an official one during the Domboshaba Festival of Culture and History over the Independence Holidays, Tibone said “the time is now” for Kalanga to be recognized.
With or without the assistance from the government, Tibone said Bakalanga should do everything within their power to ensure that their goal of promoting the language is realized.
He said Bakalanga should mobilize resources among themselves in order to promote the language, popularly spoken in the northeastern Botswana and parts of central district.
Tibone said the Moslems drafted their Quran without the assistance of their governments and the same applies to the Jews when they wrote the Torah (Jewish bible) because those in the leadership were against the move.
“Who therefore should be threatened by lack of support from the government? If the Jews and Moslems managed to achieve their goals, what will stop Bakalanga to do the same,” said Tibone amidst a round of applause from the gathering.
The gathering included former Chief Justice Julian Nganunu, ex-High Court Judge Justice John Mosojane and the wife to the former president of Botswana, Barbara Mogae to mention but a few.
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I strongly support the motion that Kalanga should be introduced as one of the national languages…If they use their resources to document their own language and culture, then what harm does that bring? How is that a threat to the unity of the nation? However, if other tribes also wish to do the same, why stop them.