Issue incentives to promote Kiswahili-PM
PRIME Minister (PM) Kassim Majaliwa on Thursday officially inaugurated the World Kiswahili Day celebrations here, pushing for incentives to students and other people using Kiswahili correctly as one of the methods to promote the language.
“Motivating students by rewarding them for using Kiswahili will motivate many to use the language,” said Mr Majaliwa at the event held at Police Hall, Ziwani where several children’s groups showcased the use of the language in different ways.
Children recited poems, sung, danced and used different Kiswahili dialects, causing excitement, and that prompted the Prime Minister to ask respective Ministries to introduce incentives for them.
Equally, he praised children who participated in Kiswahili essay writing competitions and directed State Ministers in the Prime Minister and the Second Vice- President’s Office to help in securing employment opportunities for Kiswahili teachers.
“Kiswahili opportunities in and outside the country should first benefit Tanzanians,” Mr Kassim emphasised, while directing the Ministries responsible for Culture in both Mainland and Zanzibar to go for several ways of promoting standard Kiswahili in the continent.
He also called upon Kiswahili experts, scholars and Tanzanians in general to take advantage of the opportunities to teach the Kiswahili language in foreign countries, which have formalised the language and those planning to do the same.
“Tanzanians have not yet taken advantage of the opportunity to be Kiswahili language teachers in other countries; we are being overwhelmed by other countries where Kiswahili has been considered. Let us wake up and exploit the opportunity,” he said, mentioning opportunities in South Africa and Zimbabwe and other emerging places in using Kiswahili.
In addition, the Prime Minister also explained that World Kiswahili Day should be used to reflect on all the challenges that can hinder efforts to promote the language.
Earlier, the Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports Tabia Maulid Mwita and her counterpart in the union government, Dr Pindi Chana, explained that both Governments have put in place a strategy to make the language a commodity that will benefit people, particularly teaching abroad.
“The government has started implementing its plan to find opportunities and send Kiswahili teachers abroad to teach the language and also work in institutions where Kiswahili is required,” Ms Tabia said.
Meanwhile, in ongoing efforts to promote learning and use of Kiswahili, the Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports, Pindi Chana has directed all responsible authorities in the country to ensure advertisements in foreign languages have the Kiswahili version.
Dr Chana said here on Wednesday in her speech to grace the forum on ‘Role of Kiswahili in development of Africa’ held at the Sheikh Abdulwakili Hall, Kikwajuni.
“We need to spare no effort in promoting Kiswahili. Every Tanzanian should be a Kiswahili promotion ambassador,” she said.
Minister Chana emphasised, “All advertisements that are in foreign languages must have a Kiswahili version in billboards or road shows.
Dr Chana commended Kiswahili councils in the country (BAKITA and BAKIZA) for working hard in promoting standard use of Kiswahili.
She also praised Tanzania Diasporas, local and international media outlets for having programmes that promote the language.
“We should also be happy with the news that our embassies abroad have initiated the establishment of at least ten Kiswahili learning centres. This should motivate us to work harder as the language is now an opportunity in creating employment at learning institutions, business, and diplomatic level,” Dr Chana said.
Academician Prof Patrick Lumumba from Kenya was one of the speakers at the forum. He challenged higher learning institutions to start training and accepting research writings in Kiswahili.
“We need to be committed. It is important for Africa to own and promote its language of Kiswahili,” he said.
