MP eyes gains from Kiswahili conference in Paris

DODOMA: KASULU Rural lawmaker Edibily Kazala has said the Second International Kiswahili Conference, scheduled to take place in Paris, France, in 2026, will serve as an important platform for promoting Tanzania and strengthening the global status of the Kiswahili language.

Speaking exclusively in Dodoma about the significance of the conference, Mr Kazala said anyone attending the event, even those who have never heard of Kiswahili before, will have an opportunity to learn about the language for the first time.

He called on the government and stakeholders to seize opportunities associated with the annual event, noting that the conference will bring together many Kiswahili speakers from different countries around the world, demonstrating the growing international influence of the language.

The politician stressed that the conference is not only about language, but will also open doors to various social and economic opportunities. He elaborated that language is a key foundation in many sectors, including business, education and international cooperation.

“Kiswahili continues to serve as a bridge for global communication. When you talk about business, you are talking about language; when you talk about education, you are talking about language. Therefore, this conference will help strengthen relationships and create various development opportunities,” said Kazala.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Wazalendo Tanzania, Mr Hamad Jiliu called on stakeholders, including youth in Dodoma, to maintain peace and stability in the country, stressing that citizens cannot access development opportunities, jobs, or employment when a country is affected by unrest.

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Speaking in the capital about the importance of preserving peace and stability, Mr Jiliu said citizens cannot benefit from development opportunities, jobs, or employment if peace is disrupted by instability.

“Peace is what drives national development because people cannot get opportunities, jobs, or employment when a country loses peace,” he said.

He also urged Tanzanians to learn from other nations, noting that even developed countries experience major setbacks whenever they allow unrest and instability to occur.

“We also learn from others. If you look at developed countries, whenever unrest occurs, they fall far behind in terms of development,” he added.

Jiliu urged young people to continue loving and valuing Tanzania, stressing that true patriotism cannot allow someone to destroy or destabilise their own country.