HAVANA: TANZANIA’S Ambassador to Cuba, Humphrey Polepole, has hailed the recent International Kiswahili Conference held in Cuba as a significant success.
In the course, he expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for strengthening diplomatic ties with other nations.
That was when Ambassador Polepole shared his remarks on social media, emphasising that this milestone event was beneficial to both Tanzania and Africa as a whole.
“First and foremost, we thank Almighty God, whose grace and mercy have allowed us to realise this important event, bringing benefits to Africa, the Kiswahili language and all who cherish it, both in Tanzania and abroad,” said Ambassador Polepole.
The conference, held on November 8 at the University of Havana (UH) in Cuba, marked the launch of the first Español-Swahili dictionary, a book of Spanish-Swahili proverbs and the unveiling of a statue of Mwalimu Nyerere in Havana’s Heroes’ Park.
Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports, Dr Damas Ndumbaro, represented President Samia.
Also present were Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Zanzibar’s Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sport, Tabia Maulid Mwita, along with experts, stakeholders and Kiswahili enthusiasts from Tanzania.
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Ambassador Polepole thanked President Samia for her support, which made the conference in Havana possible.
He also commended the Cuban government and people for their collaboration in organising the event, pledging to continue building the historical partnership between the two nations.
He acknowledged the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and UH for their collaboration in developing the first Español-Swahili dictionary, a project that has enhanced the standing of both countries.
He noted that this strategic project is ongoing, with plans for a second phase.
During the conference, Dr Ndumbaro highlighted that the choice of Cuba as the host country was influenced by the strong historical ties between Tanzania, Cuba and other African nations, especially in southern Africa and the Caribbean.
He explained that Cuba had supported Tanzania with technical assistance, weapons, training and soldiers in efforts to restore African dignity, with Kiswahili serving as a primary language of communication.
The Minister also expressed Tanzania’s commitment to using Kiswahili as a tool for driving Africa’s economic growth, urging Tanzanians to seize the opportunity to promote the language.
