To understand these correctly, as intended by the sender, one needs to understand the language. In the case of Botswana, for planning purposes, there has to be some kind of sense for what languages will be around in the decades ahead, and which ones will die off or be reduced in usage. There is also the question of how to handle literature when a language in which the literature is written is not fully understood. This has been a special topic of concern for writers and scholars throughout Africa. That conference reflects the concerns Africans have about their languages.
Language is often a source of pride.
We've seen it here in the USA, among Hispanics in modern times, but also among Asians and African-Americans, and in earlier times, among European immigrants. As a general statement, the African manifesto on this issue said that African languages remained vibrant and vital, despite all the odds working against them, such as colonialism and neo-colonialism. Right away, this tells you that Africans feel the pressure of their former colonial masters and present-day globalization, and they are fighting against those and trying to remain African. There is concern, however, that Africans are reverting to the colonial languages, mainly French and English, and to a larger extent English, and scholars, writers, and nationalists are urging that Africans return to their heritage and their languages. Returning to Botswana, Setswana is the national language.