University Botswana Journals
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MAKING A CASE FOR WHY BOTSWANA PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHOULD EMBRACE VIOLENCE IN IKALANGA FOLKTALES
Get PDFIkalanga folktales, particularly those of majabathu (ogres) and human narratives have generallyexhibited a fair amount of violence. This study examines forms of violence in Ikalanga folktalesfocusing on how physical and verbal violence are depicted using Garver’s theory of violenceto classify the types found in five Ikalanga folktales. The findings show that physical and verbalviolence is pervasive. The article argues that the depiction of violence is necessary for thepedagogy of the text and must not be viewed in isolation and provides insight into the structuraland ideological function of violence in Ikalanga folktales. Folktales have a useful purpose inthe formal education of a child, particularly since Botswana schools may soon offer mothertongue instruction at Reception, Standard One and Standard Two levels
The Serowe Riot and the Militarisation of the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police, 1952-1956
Get PDFThe royal conflict in the Bamangwato Reserve, which was caused by the marriage of the Bangwato prince Seretse Khama to English woman Ruth Williams, resulted in the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police’s (BPP) biggest security challenge of the late colonial era. The conflict, which would culminate in a bloody riot in Serowe in 1952, put the efficiency of the BPP to the test. Placing the events of Serowe riot within the broader context of African uprisings in other African colonies during the post-Second World War period, this article argues that the Serowe riot exposed the weakness of the BPP. It is also observed that the colonial administration and police authorities militarised the force and sanctioned a military-style occupation of the Bamangwato Reserve or tribal territory as a precautionary measure against similar incidents
Multi-Temporal Analysis of Avulsion and Channel Dynamics: A Case Study of the New Channel in the Kwando River, Botswana
Get PDFChannel modifications and avulsions through time and space have a big impact on how streams flow and how wetlands develop. The objective of this study is to identify the factors that cause the Kwando channel to avulse in Botswana territory and to explain the spatiotemporal sequences that accompany this movement. The study, which was conducted in 2016, used Garmin-GPSMap 62S to collect the coordinates of the split New Channel from the trans-boundary Kwando River’s west bank. By looking through the Google Earth photographs from 1985 to 2017 on a desktop computer with the selected images from July 1985, May 2002, December 2011, December 2013, and December 2017, the multi-temporal fluctuations in the New Channel spatial position are given and discussed. The map was created using ArcMap GIS 10.2 relying on field-tracked coordinates that are comparable to the well-defined New Channel for approximately 45km. The formation of the New Channel might be linked to three factors: i) 547mm of aboveaverage rainfall between 2004 and 2015; ii) increased inflows into the Kwando River between 2008 and 2015, and iii) the presence of paleochannels and flood plain sloughs in the system. According to analyses of historical Kwando River flow data series, 51% of inflows in 1986–1994 travelled to Shummamorei station whereas 53% of inflows in 2017–2020 went to James Camp station on the New Channel, indicating that a sizeable portion of Kwando River flows were diverted to the New Channel. Between 1995 and 2010, channel blocks and aggravation forced the flow to be diverted to the Linyanti Swamp by bank spill, which disrupted the flow pattern at Shummamorei. The New Channel has an impact on the outflow rivers, Savuti and Selinda Canal. The New Channel is concentrated on downstream wetlands in Botswana and might have an impact on the Linyanti Swamp region in Namibia
LANGUAGE ECOLOGICAL REVIVALISM IN ZIMBABWE: THE INCLUSION OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES IN ACADEMIA
Get PDFThe article discusses the linguistic ecological revivalism of previously marginalised languages in Zimbabwe through their inclusion in the academe. Prior to the adoption of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe which promoted most languages spoken in Zimbabwe to an official status, indigenous languages were relegated to lower echelons of power. Ndebele and Shona languages were regarded as national languages while the rest were relegated to marginal statuses. The current inclusion of the once marginalised languages in the curriculum is a topical issue in Zimbabwe. The article examines how these once marginalised languages managed to find their way back in the academia where English, Ndebele, and Shona are already in use. Therefore, this study is primarily concerned with mapping and discussing the inclusion of selected indigenous languages: Sotho, Nambya, Kalanga, Tonga, Xhosa, Venda, and Shangani/Tsonga at primary, secondary, college, and university levels. The article also examines the growth and development of these languages because of their inclusion in the academe and suggests avenues for further development. This research uses the Catherine Wheel Model elements to map and critique the success of that inclusion. The data gathering tool that was used for this research was interview approach. Teachers, lecturers, and research assistants were interviewed. The findings of the study show that even though these languages are empowered through their inclusion in the Zimbabwean curriculum, the achievements made so far are insignificant to warrant their growth and development
For Queen and Empire: British Military Assistance and Influence in Post-Colonial Botswana, 1977 1987
Get PDFWhile the establishment of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in 1977 was a hasty product of the Rhodesian war (1966-1979), both the general structure and direction of this new armed force were a British affair. Being a former colonial master with a strong army, it was not surprising to see the BDF adopt a British military culture. However, British influence on the affairs of Botswana’s new military grew significantly between 1977 and 1987. Using new oral and written primary sources, this paper explores the circumstances around the establishment of the BDF and offers a critical analysis of the nature and extent of British involvement in this period. The organic relationship between the newly formed BDF and the British government seemed inevitable. Some could see it as a natural progression for Botswana’s new military to seek military assistance from its former colonial master. However, the financial motivations of Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and their new programme called the United Kingdom Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS) are questionable as they fostered an over-reliance of new militaries such as the BDF on UK funds. It was no coincidence that UKMTAS started operating in the 1960s when newly independent countries were struggling to source funds to build their new armed forces
A LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION OF FISHING TERMS IN ǸKÒ̩RÓ̩Ò̩
Get PDFNko̩ro̩o̩ is an Eastern I̩jo̩ language spoken in Rivers state, Nigeria, where fishing forms part of the traditional ecological knowledge. However, there is a decline in fishing activities due to factors such as migration, education, and urbanisation which has translated into a loss of the associated vocabulary. This paper aims to identify the language used within the domain of the fishing culture and to describe the linguistic processes employed in deriving the vocabulary. The data was collected via participant observation and oral interviews with competent native speakers of Nko̩ro̩o̩ who are also engaged in fishing. The study utilises the Righthand Head Rule within the framework of generative morphology to analyse the internal structures of the fishing terms. The findings reveal that the derived vocabulary employs three-word formation processes, namely clipping, compounding, and reduplication. Both apheresis or fore-clipping and apocope or final clipping are employed to derive disyllabic clipped words. The compounds are right headed and exhibit both simple (binary) and complex structures. The study addresses the need to preserve the vocabulary associated with the fishing culture of the Nko̩ro̩o̩ people and contributes to the literature in Ijoid linguistics
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES IN LEARNING AND TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: THE PARADIGM SHIFT TOWARDS NATIONAL CREDIT AND QUALIFICATION FRAMEWORK SYSTEM
Get PDFThe use of learning outcomes in higher education has gained a crescendo and loudening as theeducation and the learning experiences are now outcome-led. The National Credit andQualifications Framework from the Botswana Qualifications Authority has put demands onhigher education sphere to change the image of education in Botswana and to align theirprogrammes offerings with such. Higher education in its contemporary mode deals with adiverse nature of students, young and mature adults, who require to be capacitated to face thereal world upon completion of their learning programmes. I argue in this paper that new waysof learning and teaching need to be established that critically engage students in rich learningenvironments. Innovative approaches to learning and teaching in higher education are verycrucial as they ensure that students find relevance in their learning, and that the pedagogicaland andragogical approaches use are robust with the demands of the twenty-first century.Experiential learning, collaborative learning, and other pedagogical approaches in teachingsuch as constructivist and inquiry-based approaches need to be further explored in highereducation institutions for their benefits to learners. The pedagogical and andragogicaldichotomy should be unpacked and educators be capacitated in handling these as part of theinnovative approaches in the era of learning outcomes. I suggest in this paper and provokethoughts on key issues that need to be taken into account when developing learning outcomes,qualifications and learning programmes in higher education
Attitudes of Agricultural Education Students Teachers Towards Lesson Planning in Eswatini
Get PDFLesson planning is an important component of teaching practice as it determines lesson delivery. However, little research has been done regarding attitudes of student teachers towards lesson planning in Eswatini. Therefore, this study sought to determine the attitudes of agricultural education student teachers towards lesson planning in Eswatini. The study employed a descriptive correlational research design. It targeted a census of the agricultural education student teachers (N=40) who were doing teaching practice in the 2018/2019 academic year. A questionnaire was developed from the literature and used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated by three lecturers from the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension. The inter-item reliability was determined using Cronbach’s Alpha and the reliability coefficient was found to be r=.77. Data were analysed using descriptive and correlational statistics. Findings of the study revealed that student teachers considered lesson planning an important part of teaching practice as it saves the student teacher from haphazard teaching, promotes orderliness, facilitates effective teaching and makes the teachers feel confident. Despite this, the student teachers also considered lesson planning to be tedious and time consuming. The general conclusion drawn from the study was that the agricultural education student teachers had a positive attitude towards lesson planning. Therefore, the study recommended that the school should ensure that all stakeholders collaborate to support the student teacher with the entire requirements for developing and delivering a lesson plan. 
Barolong Seboni, Nitty Gritty: The Book of Meanings
Get PDFNitty Gritty-The Book of Meanings is Barolong Seboni’s latest compilation of brief satirical skits, vignettes,
rib-ticklers, poems and lists of newly minted words and jingles. The jocular collection features a complete dictionary of Tshele (‘gossip’). Intellectual teasers, light-minded Commandments, prayers, and laments are in the mix. Seboni’s literary credentials are secure. He is an author of more than a dozen book publications. For more than half a century, he has consistently proven to be a productive writer. As a writer, he has remarkable drive, staying power, versatility, and finesse. Seboni is an unassuming doyen of Botswana literature who continues to use his ever-valid poetic licence to edify. He dedicates his humorous pieces to a quintet of brilliant Botswana journalists whom he honours as ‘the grandmasters of satire’ namely: Rampholo Molefhe, Paul Rantao, Kgosinkwe Moesi, Billy Chiepe and Douglas Tsiako