Don touts use of Kiswahili in job interviews

PIUS RUGONZIBWA in Mwanza

Principal of the College of Business Education (CBE), Prof Emmanuel Mjema

A SENIOR academician has challenged the government and employers in the public sector to introduce a system that will allow job seekers to be interviewed in languages they manage most.

The suggestion comes in the wake of findings that many Tanzanian job seekers find it hard to express themselves well in foreign languages particularly English, during job interviews.

Speaking to the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ here recently, the Principal of the College of Business Education (CBE), Prof Emmanuel Mjema, said it has been common for many employers to prefer using English in testing skills of the interviewees.

However, he said while the private employers can be flexible on that, it should be different for public employers who should be instructed to let local job seekers express themselves in Kiswahili, which they are more confident with.

“For many years and actually since independence of this country, Kiswahili has remained the most used language as a medium of instruction in almost all spheres of life. Therefore, asking these native Swahili speakers to use different language while looking for employment is a serious problem,” he said.

According to Prof Mjema, time has come for Tanzanians to be given the chance to enter the labour market using their widely spoken language which is now increasingly touted as the best medium of communication and illustration in East Africa.

Alternatively, given the fact that some of the job seekers might have different exposures and understanding in the languages, an arrangement should be made for them to choose between using English or Kiswahili during interviews.

If given the chance to choose the language, Prof Mjema said, many might overcome the phobia suffered as a result of being forced to communicate in English that might cause them to fail the interviews and automatically lose job opportunities.

Studies suggest that there was a clear demarcation between the ability of one to deliver in a job against the competence in communication with Prof Mjema challenging employers to go for skills rather than communication tools and abilities.

He said CBE was of late checking with different employers sharing with them on the skills they wanted to be taught for the graduates to fit and compete in the stiff Tanzanian labour market.

But, giving her comment on the matter in a separate interview, an education stakeholder Ms Josephine Lyenge said much as the labour market was increasingly becoming highly competitive, Tanzanian job seekers should be well prepared to use English while attending interviews.

“The government was aware of the communication challenge some Tanzanians face as they seek for jobs, but in my opinion we should be ready to learn and use both languages confidently,” she said.

Ms Lyenge, who is also an Acting Assistant Commissioner in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Persons with Disabilities, said despite embracing Kiswahili it was equally important for Tanzanians to be equipped in a diversity of languages.

She said other issues like job experience which for many years has remained a major stumbling block for fresh graduates to get jobs are now being addressed in collaboration with some selected Vocational Training Institutions and employers.