It would be foolhardy for Batswana to claim that they are a homogenous nation, with no ethnic divisions that often plague the rest of African societies.
For anyone conversant with the country’s history, the ethnic fissures are well known.
What has been our strength as a country has been our ability to allow space for every citizen under the tent.
While there have been complaints that the tent is not evenly spread as to provide equal protection and recognition for the bodies under it, there have never really been known instances when, as a result of that unhappiness, any tribe had wanted out of the tent.
Rather, any disgruntlements have always been addressed while still retaining membership.
That has paid dividends, not just of national unity and nation building, but has also for economic development that would otherwise have not happened if there was no peace.
Botswana’s strength has over the years not been defined by the power of our state apparatus; which by the way is very little, but by the willpower of citizens.
Batswana have always sought to live peacefully amongst themselves, thereby allowing the state enough time and space as facilitator to continue driving national developments and programmes for all those who live within the state.
That has not been by coincidence, fluke or feat of luck.
It has been by design. And we have to continue along that path.
In continuing along that path, the important thing though is that as a nation we should always listen whenever one of us complains that they feel they are not being appreciated, or when any tribe agitates that their sacrifices may be outweighing the benefits of belonging to the total sum.
By this we are saying that it is important to respect and even guarantee the rights of all tribes, most especially the minority tribes.
To attempt to brush them aside by saying that all Batswana are by law equal is a short tem expediency that will ultimately catch up with us.
During his time in office, former President Festus Mogae moved mountains to try and make the constitution tribally neutral.
While he did not altogether succeed in his efforts, his attempts were indeed commendable, not least because they were taken against a backdrop of ferocious resistance by so-called bigger tribes that did not want to let go their perceived privileges without a fight.
Before Mogae, former president Sir Ketumile Masire had built his entire political career reminding the country that the nation sum was much more important that the parts that made it.
He was, of course, wholly on the footsteps of his compatriot and friend, the founding president Sir Seretse Khama who right from independence had adopted nation building as his enduring drumbeat and mantra.
While there is absolutely nothing wrong for various ethnic groups and their leaders to call on government to institute reforms, it is important that those agitating for such reforms do so firmly but responsibly and with restraint.
The great challenge facing not just Botswana government but also those calling for the reforms is to convince the entire nation that such reforms while necessary will on their own not result in alienating anyone or, much worse, in disruptions and anarchy.
These assurances are not easy to make, much less undertake.
They need consultations, which are genuine, thorough and painstaking.
We should never take the peace and tranquillity we have achieved over the years for granted.
It would be wrong to also say such peace and tranquillity has been god-given.
Rather it is a result of steadfast commitment, sacrifice, and dedication by all Batswana.
Some people have deliberately made compromises with the hope that with time, they too would, for instance, have their children taught in their mother-tongues especially at primary school levels.
But how long should such people wait for it to happen?
All these are not easy questions.
It may be well in order to continue to call on tribal makeups not to adopt a narrow and parochial view in their demands.
The truth though is that for a long time now many such tribes have strived to adopt a national perspective even as they knew they had the option of own immediate concerns that they could enunciate if they so chose. We should reward such tribes for the sacrifices they made over the years. Otherwise some within them will start saying such sacrifices were in vain and should therefore come to an end.
Batswana have over the years demonstrated maturity, responsibility and discipline that have so often been lacking across the continent.
But biding out time and not introducing any reforms while hoping that the status quo will on its own continue to solve all our problems is wrong and irresponsible.
In fact, it is a totally wrong and counterproductive way of managing internal divisions.
