This paper deals with SWAPO's English-as-offical-language plan for Namibia. Although there are indications of systems thinking, it is also intended to promote national unity. It is argued that one should adopt a systems approach, to illuminate the relationships between the language planner's plan and other societal forces. In this case, this means that for English to be succesful as the official language, one must also support an active role of the main indigenous languages of Namibia.