A recent report has shed light on the challenges hindering the use of Kiswahili as one of the official languages of the East African Community (EAC), revealing issues such as the absence of Kiswahili councils in certain partner states and modifications to the Community's establishing Treaty.
The Report of the Committee on Legal, Rules, and Privileges, which examines the implementation of Protocols and Laws governing EAC Institutions, was presented by MP Mashaka Khalfan Ngole, the committee's Chairperson, during an EALA plenary session last week in Arusha, Tanzania and is expected to be debated this week.
The report covers several institutions, including the East African Kiswahili Commission (EAKC), established in 2015 under the Protocol for the Establishment of the Kiswahili Commission.
According to the report, the EAKC was formed in response to Article 137 of the Treaty, which emphasizes the development and use of Kiswahili as the lingua franca of the Community.
A lingua franca is a language adopted and used as a common means of communication among individuals who do not share a native language.
The EAKC envisions being at the forefront of promoting and coordinating the development and usage of Kiswahili to foster regional unity and sustainable socio-economic development across Partner States.
Challenges Faced by the EAKC
Although the 21st Meeting of the Summit of EAC Heads of State, held on February 27, 2021, officially recognized Kiswahili as one of the Community's official languages, the Treaty and the Protocol for the Establishment of the Kiswahili Commission have yet to be amended accordingly.
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The report reveals that the composition of the Commission is too large and has proven unfeasible to implement. As per the Protocol, the EAKC comprises various representatives, including those from the National Kiswahili Councils, Kiswahili Associations, Kiswahili Research Institutions, and Kiswahili Departments of Public and Private Universities of each Partner State.
Additionally, representatives from Kiswahili media operators, Media Councils, Kiswahili Writers Associations, Ministries responsible for Kiswahili, Culture, and Education in each Partner State are involved.
The report highlights the challenges faced by the Commission, such as inadequate staffing, insufficient funding for implementing activities, and limited capacity for resource mobilization, all of which impede its operations.
Other obstacles include the absence of a Governing Board, which causes delays in decision-making, sluggish disbursement of funds from Partner States, and the lack of National Kiswahili Councils and National Kiswahili Policies in certain Partner States.
"While the Summit has declared Kiswahili and French as official languages of the EAC, the necessary legal amendments, including those to the Treaty, have not been made to put that decision into effect," Mashaka said, referring to the observations made by the EALA Committee.
Meanwhile, the report highlights the accomplishments of the EAKC, such as the development of a roadmap for implementing Kiswahili as the official language of the Community and the formulation of a Draft Kiswahili Language policy.
