The Indigenous Peoples Network of Southern Africa (IPNeSA) hosted a policy conference in Maun last week which brought together community leaders, activists, and government representatives to address longstanding issues facing indigenous people. Leaders highlighted concerns over land rights, cultural preservation, and equal treatment under Botswana’s development agenda.
Speaking at the conference, one representative drew attention to the historical marginalization of San, Nama, and other indigenous communities, stressing that they are still regarded as subhuman.
He remarked: “the way the mainstream and others are, and taking care of the people who are being treated as subhuman, and people who, you know, are enslaved somehow. And if you look to Botswana and ask yourself, who are these people that are treated in a subhuman way, then you will understand that they are the same or the backward people as we want to be referred to collectively.”
He acknowledged that government has recently taken steps to address these issues, citing the inter-ministerial committee looking into the plight of San and other marginalized communities, often referred to under the Settlement of Remote Area Dwellers (SED) policy.
“Instead of coming up with programs for us as if we are animals, now the current government is engaging us. What kind of developments do you want? How do you want to take this route?” he said, welcoming dialogue with the state.
Another recurring theme was the role of women in preserving indigenous identity. Dr Belang, speaking on behalf of women, emphasised empowerment: “We as IPNeSA, we see the role of women and we would like also to give women the opportunity and empower them to get into spaces which will never have been able for women. Because language to us is not about speaking. Language to us is science. There is a lot behind language.”
She noted that many indigenous languages are disappearing and called for urgent measures to safeguard cultural knowledge.
Conference speakers also welcomed government progress on mother tongue instruction in schools, but cautioned that most indigenous languages remain excluded. “Let our languages be included within the curriculum… Some of our languages have their autographs. We have people who can read and write our own languages. So it’s just a matter of the government putting them on the system and then life goes on,” one delegate said.
On land issues, leaders warned against overlooking indigenous ownership in the redistribution process. “It would be wrong for government to give Moremi-Kemutse to Batawana and disregard the fact that it originally was taken from the San people. That would be a terrible mistake,” a speaker stated, adding that indigenous groups seek recognition of their current settlements and equal inclusion in development.
The question of identity also sparked strong remarks. One speaker rejected the use of derogatory terms such as Basarwa or Makgotlha, saying: “If you deny us an identity, you call us Basarwa, Mirachwa, Matsudana, that is treating us as subhuman. My identity does not come from a human being. It comes from God. Unless you want to subhuman me.”
IPNeSA leaders stressed that their struggle is not about reclaiming “the entire land,” but about achieving a “negotiated settlement” with other groups to ensure peaceful coexistence and dignity for indigenous communities.
The organization also announced that it plans to relocate its headquarters from Cape Town to Maun. “The plan is to have the head office of IPNeSA in Maun going forward. We are busy with that process, transitioning from South Africa to Botswana,” a spokesperson said, noting the warm reception from Botswana’s government.
