Photo Courtesy The Peninsula

Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania, H E Dr. Mahadhi Juma Maalim, has revealed plans to teach Kiswahili (Swahili) to non-speakers in Qatar as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Swahili-speaking countries mark the first World Kiswahili Language Day today. The Tanzanian community in Doha recently celebrated the day. 

“We have considered language schools that already teach Arabic, French and others, and they have shown interest. We have some people from our community whose kids can’t speak Swahili. So they would probably be the first clients keen to have their children communicate in Swahili,” Maalim told the media.

He added that some embassy staff and volunteer community members would teach the language using an expert curriculum from Tanzania. 

“We have the embassy staff, and we already have talked with some volunteers from the community; some of them have a teaching background. We’ll use a curriculum and books from the experts back home. We’re just doing it from the resources we have here,” he added.

Maalim stressed that teaching the language in Qatar and other parts of the world would encourage language learners to explore language’s origin to learn and make sure that they perfect the language. 

“So that’s by itself, I mean is encouraging cultural understanding and exchange,” he added.

Last year, the 41st session of the General Conference of UNESCO adopted resolution 41 C/61 which recognised the Kiswahili language’s role in promoting cultural diversity. Hence, the resolution proclaimed July 7 as World Kiswahili Language Day.  

Kiswahili is one of the most widely used languages of the African family and is among the ten most commonly spoken languages in the world, with more than 200 million speakers. Originally from Tanzania and Kenya, the language is one of the lingua franca in many countries within East, Central and Southern Africa like Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, and the Middle East (Yemen, Oman). It is also taught across top universities and colleges globally.

Maalim said the UN recognition for Kiswahili Day is a testament to Tanzania’s efforts, especially as Kiswahili is the first African language to the recognised in such a manner by the UN, adding that this would help preserve the language.

“Getting this recognition at the UN level is important because the language is being taught and studied in different universities worldwide. I think it gives it a better status and pushes probably for other people to continue to study and teach it. 

“We would also like more media houses to start Kiswahili services. Some international media organisations, including BBC, Voice of America, and Radio Cairo, already have that. However, suppose Al Jazeera can have a Swahili service. In that case, it will help promote the language because those people who cannot get their information through English or Arabic can get it in Swahili.”

The envoy revealed that South Africa had already started to teach Kiswahili. As part of the celebration, Tanzania and South Africa will sign an agreement to supply experts to teach Swahili in South African schools.

“Botswana also had adopted that. I think Namibia they are in the process. So that promotes Kiswahili, and we think other countries will,” Maalim said.

According to the envoy, July 7 was picked in recognition of the Tanganyika National Union (TANU) in 1954. The party struggled for Tanzania’s sovereignty from British colonial rule and was led by independence icon Julius Nyerere.  By Ayeni Olusegun, The Peninsula

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, July 6, certified 96 graduates who successfully completed a 6-month course in professional mediation. 

Locally known as Abahuza, the role of mediators is to foster alternative dispute resolution through facilitating voluntary settlement of a case out of court.

To be Umuhuza (or a professional mediator), you must possess a bachelors’ degree in any field. 

In total, Rwanda has 165 professional mediators to date who secured Chief Justice’s approval to start practising. 

Some 250 others have also attended the mandatory 6-month course in mediation but they’ve yet to receive the green light from the Chief Justice authorising them to practise, or have not sought it. 

Apart from cases that are criminal in nature, Abahuza can facilitate resolution of any case regardless of the amount involved.  

This is contrary to Abunzi (community-based conciliators) that cannot adjudicate cases whose value exceed Frw3 million. There are a total of 17, 941 Abunzi countrywide.  

Abahuza can also be asked to take up cases that have already been lodged in court provided the both parties agree to it during the pre-trial sessions.

It is hoped that the growing number of Abahuza will see more people embrace mediation as a way of resolving disputes, thereby helping ease case backlog in courts. 

The majority of the Abahuza who were certified this week are lawyers registered with Rwanda Bar Association, with others including engineers and clerics.  

The course was introduced to help empower interested degree holders with mediation skills as a way of enhancing a culture of mediation in dispute resolution. 

Chief Justice Emeritus Prof. Sam Rugege called on professional mediators to put to good use their skills to help promote peace in society. 

“This should promote peace in the community and contribute toward prosperity and development,” he said. “Mediation is not only for cases that have been brought to court, but those that are in the community as well.”

Chief Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo said professionals in mediation will impact the judiciary and country positively. 

Officials are keen to see mediation gain greater recognition and acceptance in society, saying it would help save judicial resources and free up judges to concentrate on more complex cases.  

Cecile Mugeni, a newly certified mediator, noted that mediation is the best way to help both parties to settle their differences and continue to live in harmony with one another. 

Pastor Jean Claude Cyuma, another certified mediator, said: “Now I have become a mediator by profession I will implement what I learnt and facilitate people to resolve their disputes.” 

“We learnt how best to help people come to a solution by themselves, how to communicate and how to get everyone comfortable during the mediation process,” he said. 

The online mediation course was offered by the Edwards Mediation Academy, US. - Olivia Kageruka, The New Times

By PSCU

President Uhuru Kenyatta was on Thursday inaugurated as the Global Champion for the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), an initiative of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) which aims to raise 25 billion US dollars for investment in Africa’s climate adaptation initiatives.

The President was, at the event held at the University of Nairobi’s Taifa Hall in Nairobi City County, also feted by GCA for his leading role in advocacy and resource mobilization for climate change adaptation in Africa and globally.

The recognition was given to the Head of State by GCA CEO Patrick van Verkooijen who commended President Kenyatta for his sterling efforts in tackling the climate change challenge.

In his acceptance speech, President Kenyatta noted that most of the socio-economic challenges facing Africa are attributable to climate change and pledged his full commitment to advancing the continent’s adaptation agenda.

“As an adaptation champion, I will be the voice of all voiceless Africans who are crying out for a climate-resilient and prosperous future,” President Kenyatta said adding that climate change had become an existential threat to every country in Africa.

The President noted that the Horn of Africa was facing its worst drought in over 40 years as a direct consequence of climate change.

“What does this mean in human terms for my fellow Kenyans, and our neighbours in Ethiopia and Somalia? Harvests have failed and 3 million cows are dead. People in drought-stricken areas are facing severe water shortages and cases of inter- community fighting, over pasture are, on the increase.

“As we speak, over four million Kenyans are in need of food assistance and close to one million children under 2 years, are malnourished. Across the Horn of Africa, twenty million people – and six million of them are children – are severely food insecure,” the President said. 

He said climate induced extreme weather conditions including devastating floods in Southern Africa and Southern Sudan, will retard Africa’s progress.

“Such crises precipitate huge economic loses, estimated at 3% of GDP for the continent in the medium term. They also threaten peaceful coexistence, leading to inter-community conflict as well as displacement, as people relocate in search of food and pasture,” the President said.

The Head of State said the situation is likely to have negative impacts on generations to come as children face malnutrition due to food insecurity, which in turn undermines their health and productivity.

“This deadly toxic cocktail of Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russian war and the climate change related emergency, grows more deadly by the day,” he said.

Once again, the President urged developed nations to fulfill their financial pledges towards Africa’s adaptation agenda.

“We have no choice. We must act and do so fast, because the window of opportunity is closing on us. This means we must waste no time; and we must prioritise and invest massively in adaptation and resilience,” the President urged.

He said AAAP is a bold and creative platform that lays a broad and firm foundation for economic growth while at the same time containing the impact of climate shocks.

“And it is timely. Because while Africa’s vulnerability to climate change is rising, so too is the gap between the available finance for adaptation and the needs in terms of hard cash. In stark terms indications are that US $33 billion is the quantum of financing currently required for adaptation annually; but only a fraction of that – just US $6 billion – is available.

“Therefore, today, as I assume my role as an adaptation champion, I repeat my call to our development partners to urgently support Africa by making good on their pledges. The US $100bn annual amount pledged to help developing countries tackle climate change by 2020, is yet to be honoured. 

“And now, in the absence of that promised one hundred billion US Dollars a year, we have another promise pending – the promise made at COP26 in Glasgow to double adaptation finance,” the President said.

He added: “We must shift gear and move from commitments to action. To achieve the Paris Agreement, there must be a paradigm-shift. When African leaders arrive in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in November for COP27, we expect to see the many climate change commitments translate into funded programmes”.

Environment CS Keriako Tobiko said through President Kenyatta’s efforts the country had grown its forest cover to 12.3 percent forest cover.

“Your Excellency, you mobilised the entire country into tree planting campaign. Our constitution requires a tree cover of a minimum of 10 percent, but Your Excellency with your leadership our tree cover now is now 12.13percent,” he said.

Other speakers at the auspicious event through pre-recorded messages were former UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, WTO Director General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and African Development Bank AfDB President Dr Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina.