Government pushes for Kiswahili to become CAF official language

RABAT: MINISTER for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda has said the government will work closely with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to push for Kiswahili to be recognised as one of the official languages of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Currently, CAF uses English, French and Arabic as its official languages in meetings and official communications.

Makonda said TFF President Wallace Karia is expected to submit a formal proposal at this year’s CAF General Assembly, seeking the inclusion of Kiswahili among the continental football body’s official languages.

“We believe Kiswahili deserves a place among CAF’s official languages because it is widely spoken across Africa and continues to gain international recognition,” Makonda said.

“The government and TFF are united on this matter and will continue engaging CAF on the importance of recognising Kiswahili,” he added.

Makonda made the remarks during a welcoming event hosted by the Tanzania Embassy in Morocco in honour of Tanzanian supporters, who travelled from Dar es Salaam to Rabat to support the Serengeti Boys in their U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Senegal yesterday.

In a related development, the minister said this year’s Kiswahili Conference in Paris, France, will also serve as a platform to promote Tanzania’s tourism attractions and investment opportunities.

He said the conference will be organised jointly by his ministry and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism as part of broader efforts to market Tanzania internationally.

“This year’s Kiswahili Conference will go beyond language promotion. We want the world to experience Tanzania’s tourism potential, rich culture and investment opportunities,” he said.

Makonda cited the owner of Paris FC as an example of growing international interest in Tanzania, saying the investor confirmed plans to visit the country in August after watching promotional videos showcasing Tanzania’s wildlife attractions.

“He watched videos of Tanzania’s wildlife and immediately decided he did not want to miss the experience,” Makonda said.