Shein touts proper usage of Kiswahili

DAILY NEWS Reporter, Zanzibar

PRESIDENT Ali Mohamed Shein has said that the ambition to make Kiswahili an international language can only be achieved if everyone will play their role. In his speech at the opening of workshop on ‘Kiswahili’ here, Dr Shein challenged every Tanzanian to use standard Kiswahili as the best way to promote it in the region and globally.

“Mixing Kiswahili with other languages like English, cutting the words short, and wrong use of the words, have been undermining the development of Kiswahili,” Dr Shein said at the workshop held at the former House of Representatives debate chamber. He said if every person uses standard Kiswahili properly, the plan to make it one of the International languages can be achieved, as par East African Cooperation (EAC) and African Union (AU) directives.

The president said “We already have the ‘EAC Kiswahili Commission’ offices in Zanzibar, a place considered to be the birth of standard Kiswahili. Let us use the opportunity by applying the language properly.” He said that it is the role of Kiswahili Councils in Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland (BAKIZA and BAKITA), to ensure only standard Kiswahili is spoken, used in forums, arts/music, and in the media.

Dr Mohammed Seif Khatib, Chairman, ‘Baraza la Kiswahili Zanzibar (BAKIZA)’ and one of the stakeholders Prof Alwiya Saleh said at the workshop that eagerness to learn Kiswahili has grown drastically, creating an opportunity for native users.

“Using standard Kiswahili, without mixing with English, will definitely attract more learners from abroad and also encourage people to use it correctly,” said Dr Khatib. He said many Universities in Africa, and US were now teaching Kiswahili, as Mr Nathalie Arnoldwho successfully learned Kiswahili, urged people in other countries to learn the East African language “Because it is about learning the culture of the people of East Africa.”