Govt reaffirms commitment to invest in Kiswahili

ZANZIBAR: SECOND Vice-President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla has reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to invest in Kiswahili language, which has many social and economic benefits for the country.

He said the government will continually invest, manage, promote and develop the language through Baraza la Kiswahili Tanzania (BAKITA), Baraza la Kiswahili Zanzibar (BAKIZA), education systems and media.

Mr Abdulla was speaking on behalf of President Hussein Mwinyi at the climax of the World Kiswahili Day at Ziwani grounds in the isles.

He said the revolutionary and Union governments will continue to invest in the language that was born in Africa, knowing that it has huge social and economic potential to benefit the country.

The second Vice-President said the celebration of the special Kiswahili day globally has boosted the language’s status, prestige and influence towards the international level.

He said Kiswahili is continually earning the global status and is widely elevated in all African, Asian, European and American nations where people are taking interest in learning and using Kiswahili as the medium of communication in their social, economic and diplomatic activities.

The second vice-president emphasised the use and teaching of precise Kiswahili to promote it internationally without losing its status. He reminded leaders, experts and all stakeholders to cooperate in promoting the language nationally and internationally.

Mr Abdulla directed all government and private institutions to adhere to the government directives on the use of Kiswahili to attain the set target.

He commended BAKITA and BAKIZA for their good work to manage and coordinate the increasing use of Kiswahili within and outside the country through cooperation with various stakeholders.

He challenged wananchi to observe peace and unity, saying in the absence of peace, the country will hardly develop.

Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Professor Palamagamba Kabudi described Kiswahili as an identity of the African continent and heritage that is globally circulating, thanks to efforts by the government and various institutions.

Prof Kabudi commended President Mwinyi for his huge contribution to the promotion of Kiswahili and its wide use.

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BAKIZA Chairperson, Dr Saade Said Mbarouk said the Kiswahili day is of critical importance because it highlights the achievements in the language promotion.

An official from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Nancy Mwaisaka said the UN agency will continue to support Tanzania’s efforts in promoting the language globally as the African continent’s identity, especially in promoting unity and peace.

She described Kiswahili language as a tool of sensitising women and youth in social and economic struggles, assuring that UNESCO will remain supportive to all efforts to promote the language nationally and internationally.