The Tswana make 18 per cent of the population, while the non-Tswana make 60 per cent.

There are 45 tribes in Botswana who speak 27 languages (including 8 Tswana tribes).

CERD recommended that the State provide primary education in the main mother tongues of non-Tswana tribes, in particular in regions inhabited traditionally or in substantial numbers by persons belonging to non-Tswana tribes.

Indeed, according to his sources, 9 of the 12 Land Board secretaries in the country were Tswana, despite the fact that the Tswana people did not account for the majority of the population.

It further notes that, according to some information, non-Tswana-speaking regions all rejected the proposed bill.

CERD noted with concern the linguistic barriers in education for many children belonging to non-Tswana tribes.

The problems facing the non-Tswana-speaking ethnic groups, comprising an estimated 60 per cent of the population in Botswana, were highlighted.

It was reported that Bill No. 31 of 2003 would have the effect of entrenching the recognition of the eight Tswana-speaking tribes to the exclusion of others.

The Committee recommends that the State party implement its above policy, in particular in regions inhabited traditionally or in substantial numbers by persons belonging to non-Tswana tribes.

Like many African countries, it has diverse ethnic groups, which include the Afrikaner, Baster, Caprivian, Coloured, Damara, English, German, Herero, Kavango, Nama, Owambo, San and Tswana peoples.