DODOMA: THE government has stepped up efforts to promote and strengthen the use of Kiswahili language as a key driver of regional development.
The Principal Secretary in the Zanzibar Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Mr Khamis Abdulla Said, said the government will continue to emphasise the importance of expanding Kiswahili usage across various sectors.
Mr Said made the remarks on Monday in Dodoma while officiating at the opening of a National Consultative Meeting between the Executive Secretary of the East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC) and Permanent Secretaries on policies and strategies for the development of Kiswahili.
“The government will continue to stress the importance of promoting and strengthening the use of Kiswahili for regional development,” he said.
Mr Said, who spoke on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, noted that Kiswahili plays a significant role in strengthening regional unity, facilitating communication among partner states and enhancing social, economic and cultural cooperation within the East African Community (EAC).
He said the meeting provides an important platform to discuss policies and strategies aimed at advancing the use of Kiswahili in various development sectors.
The meeting brought together Permanent Secretaries from different ministries, representatives of Kiswahili institutions in Tanzania and officials from the Commission.
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On her part, the Executive Secretary of the East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC), Dr Caroline Asiimwe, commended the government for its continued efforts to promote Kiswahili, including submitting a proposal for the language to be recognised as an official language of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
She said the Commission will continue supporting such initiatives to ensure Kiswahili gains wider international recognition.
The consultative meeting aimed to assess progress made in implementing Kiswahili as a regional official language while also setting strategic measures to enhance its use in various institutions.
Participants also discussed ways to strengthen Kiswahili teaching, expand its use in the media, education and public services and deepen regional cooperation through the Commission.