Expressing dismay over what he termed as the "deteriorating state of Kiswahili and gross abuse of the language" by leaders, educated persons, academicians and many social groups, he said: "promotion of Kiswahili as a national language would be impossible if we are not going to be serious…." It's upon every Tanzanian to change, respect our language and use it properly."
Kingunge: Mainstreaming Kiswahili as lingua franca may fail
"It requires seriousness and commitment on the part of academicians, national leaders, politicians and every Tanzanian to attain those targets," he said.
"We as advocates of Kiswahili should not speak from the vacuum…we need to act and demonstrate true commitment to promote our language," Kingunge said this at the official inauguration of a book about the life-history of the late Kaluta Amri Abedi in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.
The book is written by the late Mathias Eugene Mnyampala.
The two (Mnyampala and Kaluta) are friends, who many people regard as 'heroes' in the promotion of Kiswahili through poems and literatures.
Besides promoting the language, the duo remain the national 'icons' who contributed immensely to the country's fight for independence and thereafter, on the welfare of low-income people and as well as peace.
According to history, both Kaluta and Mnyampala, authored a number of books and poems targeting promotion of Kiswahili—one of the unifying tools used by the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, during the struggle for independence.
Describing Kaluta and Mnyampala as role models in the promotion of Kiswahili, Kingunge said "these two people managed to accomplish their mission because they were serious."
"Yes, Kiswahili is our national language, but are we really serious enough to promote it and make it a national communication tool the way Mnyampala and Kaluta did in their days?" he queried.
Kingunge, a long-time carder of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, said he has been monitoring debates across the country on the promotion of Kiswahili as the national language and mainstreaming of the same in the administrative and educational system.
"But let me ask these advocates of Kiswahili one question, are they serious? How can you promote Kiswahili in a situation where national leaders and prominent politicians (in Parliament and public forums) intentionally distort the language?" he questioned.
Expressing dismay over what he termed as the "deteriorating state of Kiswahili and gross abuse of the language" by leaders, educated persons, academicians and many social groups, he said: "promotion of Kiswahili as a national language would be impossible if we are not going to be serious…." It's upon every Tanzanian to change, respect our language and use it properly."
"It's not enough to shout, pressing the government to incorporate Kiswahili in the national education and administrative systems, everybody must be serious in the use of proper Kiswahili," noted the visibly-irritated politician, who served as cabinet minister from the first to the fourth governments.
Although he concurred with the advocates of Kiswahili on the incorporation of the language as a medium of instructions in the higher-learning institutions, Kingunge said proper ground work was also needed before any implementation is done, "otherwise we will add more problems into the higher learning system."
At the moment, he explained, Kiswahili "is a big problem in primary and second education levels, as many students fail the subject. On the other hand, English is also a problem in higher learning institutions."
"So, if we decide to incorporate Kiswahili as a medium of instruction in higher-learning schools, then we will create two complex problems there (in higher-learning institutions), and completely confuse our children, besides putting our education jeopardy," Kingunge observed.
Speaking at the occasion, Kiswahili expert Prof Mugyabuso Mulokozi, besides making a presentation on the life history of the late hero, Kaluta Amri Abedi, dismissed wrong perceptions by those opposed to the incorporation of the language into the country's educational systems.
"My belief is that, with regard to Kiswahili use, Tanzania is an Island…this is one of the few countries in the world whose people can be united by one language, Kiswahili," said the don.
For his part, Joshua Madumulla, who presented the life-history of Mathias Eugene Mnyampala, said: "As a nation, we are duty-bound to cultivate a culture of respecting and preserving historical milestones registered by such heros (Kaluta and Mnyampala), who contributed a lot to the country we are living."
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