The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) has made a declaration to adopt Kiswahili as its fourth official language of communication, as the world celebrates 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages (IYIL).
Existing official languages of SADC currently are English, Portuguese and French. The decision which was announced during the SADC 39th heads of summit in Tanzanian at Julius Nyerere International Centre, ensures that the marginalization of African languages as languages of business is dealt with.
“The #39SADCSummit went very well… it was a most successful summit…” ~ His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa on conclusion of his State Visit and Working Visit to the United Republic of #Tanzania ???????? #BetterAfricaBetterWorld pic.twitter.com/TZVp3JzG4i
— Presidency | South Africa ???????? (@PresidencyZA) August 18, 2019
Africa is the only continent where the majority of children start school using a foreign language. Across Africa the idea persists that the international languages of wider communication (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) are the only means for upward economic mobility.
“This milestone achievement towards recognition and elevation of indigenous African languages across the SADC region forms part of the greater effort in ensuring development, usage and intellectualisation of our heritage languages. Kiswahili is an impeccable point of departure in safeguarding integrative multilingualism inclusive of indigenous languages,” said the Chairperson of the Board, Dr David Maahlamela.
#SADC Chairperson H.E. @MagufuliJP officially closed the #39thSADCSummit in Dar es Salaam. Read the Communique on the SADC Summit. https://t.co/u8uutzOo4N @OfficialMasisi @CyrilRamaphosa @FNyusi @edmnangagwa pic.twitter.com/JHOCQWy9J9
— SADC Secretariat (@SADC_News) August 19, 2019
“We have for long been very much concerned that not only South Africa has experienced the marginalisation of indigenous languages, but also our SADC region, where mostly English language took prominence amongst others. South Africa as a member state has a huge responsibility ahead in ensuring that indigenous language not only becomes communication languages, but also business languages in all sectors and environment,” concluded Dr Maahlamela.
