[1]PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary-general Wynter Kabimba says the PF government will overhaul the education system by making local languages more prominent in the curriculum and doing away with the colonial style of education.
Mr Kabimba said the current education system is still steeped in colonialism and Government would put an end to that.
“Our education system has a colonial hang-up…we want to change that,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said this during a meeting with school managers from over 20 government schools in Mazabuka on Saturday.
He said the current education system does not meet the challenges of a third-world country.
“Our education system does not meet the demands of a third-world country. We are producing students who are not relevant to the needs of our country,” Mr Kabimba said.
He wondered why Zambians should insist on using English as the medium of communication when the country is rich with many languages.
“It is the policy of the PF to revive vernacular languages because a language gives us identity,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said the PF wants pupils aged 10 and above to focus on what they are good at, instead of studying subjects which are irrelevant to their skills.
“We need artisans to develop this country. We cannot all be lawyers or doctors. That is why the PF wants to tap into human potential at a young age,” Mr Kabimba said.
[pullquote]“Our education system does not meet the demands of a third-world country. We are producing students who are not relevant to the needs of our country,” Mr Kabimba said.[/pullquote]
Mr Kabimba said there is a deliberate effort by colonial masters to kill native languages.
“A language gives personal and cultural identity. Teachers have a duty to teach children vernacular languages.
“It is the policy of the PF to revive vernacular languages because our languages give us a sense of identity,” Mr Kabimba said.
Mr Kabimba said he is not proud to use English as a medium of communication.
“I use Sala when talking to my children in my house, because English is a foreign language,” Mr Kabimba said.
Mr Kabimba said he is proud that when he started school in Livingstone, he was taught Tonga and later on he learnt Lozi.
“I speak these local languages fluently because I was taught to speak them while I was young,” he said.
[pullquote]“We need artisans to develop this country. We cannot all be lawyers or doctors. That is why the PF wants to tap into human potential at a young age,” Mr Kabimba said.[/pullquote]
Mr Kabimba said he finds it strange that some people even brag that they speak English better than indigenous languages.
Meanwhile, Mr Kabimba says there’s no compromise of discipline in the party. Mr Kabimba says discipline in PF is paramount because no one is bigger than the party.
Mr Kabimba, who is also Minister of Justice, was speaking on Saturday in Mazabuka during a radio programme called Live Wire on Mazabuka Radio.
And Mr Kabimba says most Zambians are concentrating on discussing individuals at the expense of development.
“Let’s learn to debate Development Issues, not personalities because there are many people who are suffering out there,” Mr Kabimba said.
Some callers wanted to drag Mr Kabimba into discussing the fate of Minister of Foreign Affair Given Lubinda.
“Our primary duty and priority is to tackle the poverty which Zambian people are facing, not to discuss personalities,” Mr Kabimba said.
He urged people to rally behind the PF government so that it can deliver development.
“Support the PF with or without Wynter Kabimba. The PF wants this country to be better and if Zambia does not develop under Michael Sata, we can forget about development,” Mr Kabimba said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Comments Disabled To "Education system to be overhauled, local languages to be made more prominent-Kabimba"
#1 Comment By brainee On January 14, 2013 @ 11:21 am
Atubone
#2 Comment By Gazi On January 14, 2013 @ 4:20 pm
Where is the Minister of Education?
#3 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:46 pm
These people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#4 Comment By zagaze On January 14, 2013 @ 10:04 pm
@ professor thinks. i wonder what kind of professor you are my friend. always looking for the easy way out which is costly in the long run. what is an atom in chinese,vietnamese,japanese,norwegian,russian etc. these countries use their local languages in university and not english. but look at how developed they are. koreans use korean in their universities,and yet they are able to give you samsung,hyundai,kia. my friend we might as well start now by focusing on our languages. language is identity. we have lost ourselves so much to the imperialists that we dont even give our own children our names like chama,mwansa,hakainde yet there is not one white man in hamburgh,london,washington who has given their child a name of mwansa or eze. and when i say this,you will argue that we are living in
#5 Comment By zagaze On January 14, 2013 @ 10:08 pm
in a global village. yet we seem to be the only ones losing out. why is that? we are soon to be stopped from using fossil fuels all in the name of green gases. tell me if you can run those pumps in KCM which pump out water from the mines underground using solar energy as it is now or wind energy. can yo develop your industries in that manner? yet it is agreeable now because the powers that be (western world) are advocating for that when they know they ave already developed key areas of their economy using fossil fuels. wake up. ichisungu techesu. tulingile tu tampeko naifwe atleast ukulemba literature in local langages. let those who major in history,and many social sciences lead the way and the scientific zambia will follow after some time. but lets start now.
#6 Comment By The-Socialist On January 15, 2013 @ 8:50 am
@ zagaze my friend, how does changing our education system into local Zambian languages going to help us. English today is a very important form of communication in business and round the world. When countries trade am sure they communicate in English so can u see the huge impact it’s going to have on our education system. I can speak Bemba and Nyanja but at school I was taught to speak and write in English. Many Zambians can speak English and a Zambian language. This is an advantage for Zambians when they go abroad and do further studies. So this idea of changing the system is going to take Zambia go back wards. There are many other things that needs to be done to improve our education system and this is not the way to go.
#7 Comment By kumishesu On January 15, 2013 @ 10:39 am
so ba zagaze dont you notice tht there enough cultural difference with examples you have given. you talk of chine japan korea etc. dont realise the that they are one people people with only very minute dilectal differences. now you Zambians with yo tribal wars that are going on right now who will want to be dominated by another tribe for example if you are namwanga doesnnt mean you are bemba. and there my friend is where the problem is. even countries in Africa that have decided to be local have realised what problems come with rabbied politicians ideas kenya for example was smart enough to keep English while promoting swahili Tanzania on the other hand has issues. you should see how there education is. its a nice idea to think about. but impractical
#8 Comment By KweKwe On January 14, 2013 @ 11:23 am
Thanks
#9 Comment By GUNDIX On January 14, 2013 @ 11:25 am
Cosmetics are not for a national government; they are both an excuse and a deceptive waste of time.
#10 Comment By Sikufele On January 14, 2013 @ 11:27 am
And money….
#11 Comment By A Phiri ana bwe… On January 14, 2013 @ 4:45 pm
Indeed. As it is we do not even use signage to acknowledge readers of our local languages as they go about their daily lives. I’m all for encouraging languages though, however, as we do not have a universal communication option that will not breed tribal superiority claims, I would ensure we do not end up failing to teach universal communication and make it harder for a child to get the same access to global education that we have had just to prove a historical point. Mandarin, Portuguese, the languages of India. Tap in to those too as additional foreign options for future jobs while encouraging more TV, radio and social use of local languages.
#12 Comment By mature On January 14, 2013 @ 11:26 am
jack of all trades…. in what capacity did he deliver that speech? although the idea is good, let the minister responsible announce to zambians about the govt’s plans. fyonse nimwebo… awe mwe.
#13 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:45 pm
That’s a bad idea! these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia…
#14 Comment By Mo taim On January 14, 2013 @ 11:26 am
Awesome ! That has also been my view.They will never go wrong by making sure that local languages in schools are encouraged and promoted.It breaks my spirit whenever i see the failure by kids growing up these days failingto express themselves in atleast one local language.We are in danger of having some local languages extinct decades down the line if we are not careful.
#15 Comment By Job On January 14, 2013 @ 1:59 pm
You right dude.You even find some even boasting that umwana wandi alandafye ichisungu.What a shame.
#16 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:44 pm
don’t be silly! These people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#17 Comment By KweKwe On January 14, 2013 @ 11:29 am
Start with UNZA. Too much of theory. I am a product of that institution but still think, I needed much more better education than what I got from there. In my fourth year, I was taking a combination Chemotherapy, Analytical Chemistry parasitology and animal Biology. does it make sence?
I used less than 5% of that education in my work experience.
#18 Comment By Kaili On January 14, 2013 @ 4:11 pm
You are not a UNZA Graduate, you can’t even spell SENSE…
#19 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:43 pm
don’t be crazy! these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#20 Comment By Morgan On January 14, 2013 @ 7:53 pm
broken english @ I used 5%……..!!!!
#21 Comment By Goncalves On January 14, 2013 @ 11:29 am
If Kabimba were to write a scientific paper in his native Lala, only then would I take him seriously. Kabimba looking at your age you must have been instructed in Lozi at the Livingstone School you attended and not Tonga. Lozi was the language taught in school before the switch to Tonga in the mid seventies or thereabouts.
#22 Comment By MundiaM On January 14, 2013 @ 3:21 pm
Iwe Kabimba has told you, he was taught in Tonga & later learnt Lozi. Did he tell you that at his school they were teaching in Lozi? Complexity at its best!
#23 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 3:49 am
Kabimba is not lala.
#24 Comment By Goncalves On January 15, 2013 @ 7:12 am
@MundiaM. You must have failed your comprehension at school. How old is your Kabimba? I am sure he is old enough to have started Primary school in the 60s. And if this is the case, then he was taught in Lozi and not Tonga at his Livingstone school. Tonga only came to replace Lozi as a medium of instruction and/or a taught language in Livingstone schools in 1976.
@Kumar, thanx. I meant to say Sala. I have to learn to proof read before hitting the post button!
#25 Comment By Russian Data On January 14, 2013 @ 11:29 am
ITS A BIG MISTAKE BANE! ZAMBIA IS MUCH COMFORTABLE WITH ENGLISH AS THE 1ST LANGUAGE. I’M IN RUSSIA NOW AND MANY RUSSIANS REGRET FOR HAVING RUSSIAN LANGUAGE AS THERE OFFICIAL LANG. EVEN MY FRIENDS FROM PREVIOUSLY FRENCH, SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE COLONISED CAN BARE WITH ME HERE, THEY ALL WANT TO LEARN ENG IN AS MUCH AS WE SPEAK. ENGLISH IS JUST A GLOBAL LANGUAGE AND ZAMBIA WE SHOULD FEEL BLESSED BY THE MERE FACT THAT WE’VE EARNED IT IN OUR CULTURE.
#26 Comment By Moscow never sleeps) On January 14, 2013 @ 11:40 am
Boi bebe!! ?? ?? ????? ?????!
#27 Comment By Moscow never sleeps) On January 14, 2013 @ 11:42 am
cho za pizda blyat
#28 Comment By MATADOR On January 14, 2013 @ 1:38 pm
You must be in the remotest part of Russia or something….Russians I know have pride in their stuffs than any of you Zambians will ever have.It’s true that they want to know english for cuz it’s international,but not true that they would give their language up for it.
#29 Comment By Moscow never sleeps) On January 14, 2013 @ 2:07 pm
Matador!! there are no scientific terms in our local languages! are you going to write down all the terminologies and start teaching all the professionals in the various sectors of the economy! Do you even know why Tanzania , a very well Geographical positioned country is still lagging behind? Make some research before you unveil you ignorance to the rest of the world!
#30 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:41 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#31 Comment By MATADOR On January 14, 2013 @ 6:03 pm
@Moscow Never Sleeps,if there’s anyone who’s showing ignorance here it’s you. Russian,German’s,Chinese,Japanese, to mention but just a few, have their scientists who discovered lots of things and theorized them using their languages.As a matter of fact,the same things you are reading in science today,the majority was not in English but from different countries around Europe. Now,I can go on listing all the things to justify the advantages of having an indigenous language as a communication media,but doing it for you wont be of any benefit considering the complex you have. And saying Tanzania is not doing good cuz they are using swahili as a medium of communication is the dimbest thing one can. Zambia,and many other countries are not doing so well for using the so called intl languages
#32 Comment By MATADOR On January 14, 2013 @ 6:09 pm
And just to make mention,South Africa has got like 13 local languages which are official,their geographical position is great and so is their economy. So, again,don’t try to act like a smart ass you are not
#33 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 3:52 am
One of the most envied nations on earth – Switzerland has four national languages. What is our fear? What’s up with English, boses. You think you look too dark speaking your language?
#34 Comment By MMD Chief Booklicker On January 14, 2013 @ 11:32 am
Definitely, I have to agree with this lawyer that our education system needs a face lift and in its current form it is not delivering the relevant skills to a third world growing economy like Zambia and I welcome effort to address those issues specifically.
As for languages, am just not sure how that boosts the economy, maybe if people have pride and some language identity, they become more productive. I don’t know about that since I have never had issues with language identity.
May be we introduce Chinese language as an option as well, just like we do for French, after all we shall need to do more trade with the Chinese in future as they become the biggest economy
#35 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:39 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#36 Comment By KweKwe On January 14, 2013 @ 11:33 am
By the way, chemotherapy is a component of organic chemistry
#37 Comment By Mushota On January 14, 2013 @ 11:33 am
I know this is unprecedented for a young single Zambian woman to have MBA CIMA ACCA Bsc MSc and pursuing her PhD and only in her 20’s engaged to a Whiteman and living in Europe, I was told by my cousin in Zambia last month that women like me are a challenge for an average Zambian man, they are scared to even ask me out because they know I am not at their level
Successful women such as Hillary Clinton, Condoleza Rice, Oprah Winfrey etc starts out by being hungry for successful like I am, by pursuing unprecedented goals, by reaching summits unreachable and by being different.
If there are people here that I intimidate are ashamed of asking me questions and suppressed, are being forced to be reclusive, please don’t be.
I am just a normal person like you.
Thanks
#38 Comment By Me On January 14, 2013 @ 11:39 am
Pfffftt! You’re probably a 45 year old man, mushota. Why do you troll so much?
#39 Comment By Kanyengambeta On January 14, 2013 @ 11:56 am
Mushota,
Is this an invitation to treat? Nick is not enough for you?
#40 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 12:18 pm
@Mushota#8
Hey, lol I am not trying to insult you or interpret your message differently but critically looking at the package above, it leaves alot of/many issues hanging somewhere unanswered and will remain unsatisfactorily addressed on your part. Put differently, you frequently emphasize that you want no intimate relationships with people of colour like myself. Given this simple picture, how can we even embrace you in our ranks and I am not insinuating that my level of education is lower down the rank, however, my point is, mirror what is deemed good or best for you and other humans whether taught or untaught.
I love you lol, take care and I am looking forward to hearing more detailed sense from you. Enjoy or at best be a brand new loving lady armed with love and critical knowledge.
#41 Comment By THE SAINT On January 14, 2013 @ 12:27 pm
Mushota, may advise you to subscribe to Grammarly so that you do not use English in this way:
‘Successful women (PLEURAL) such as Hillary Clinton, Condoleza Rice, Oprah Winfrey etc starts (SINGULAR) out by being hungry for successful (ADJECTIVE) like I am (ADVERB), by pursuing unprecedented goals, by reaching summits unreachable (IF UNREACHABLE, HOW CAN THEY BE REACHED?) and by being different.’
I admit that you are not engaged to an English man but A scottish subject of the Queen of England, so English may not be his forte.
#42 Comment By The-Socialist On January 14, 2013 @ 12:49 pm
Mushota I think u are the dullest person on this blog, what are bragging about? I am ingaged to a white man so what, he’s probably an asss like you.
#43 Comment By Mpho On January 14, 2013 @ 12:58 pm
Hillary Clinton – BA Political Science, Wellesley College (1969), Yale Law School (1973),
Oprah – She attended Tennessee State University where she studied and majored in speech communication and performing arts.
Condoleezza Rice, Professor of Science (Stanford University),
You’re more educated than them. But what have you to show about yourself apart from education
#44 Comment By Kaili On January 14, 2013 @ 4:31 pm
Mushota, people like you to me are an embarrassment, there are so many people who are married to White People and who is a white person anyway? Whites excrete like you! To start with your English is bad, let alone the spellings, your way of combining sentences is pathetic. I highly recommend, you rewrite your high school Maths, English…
#45 Comment By choziba ziba On January 14, 2013 @ 5:00 pm
engaged for 8 years naimwe mayo,tabamipafye so that you give more blow jobs nokumitomba pa musula.umusungu wachabe.lol
#46 Comment By Browser On January 15, 2013 @ 7:58 am
you will understand how learned the person is by just seeing how well they freely express themselves, but what i see is that you wrongly express oneself and also you answer to correct debates with wrong statements and am thinking that this girl is very lost, my grandmother whom i awarded the PHD even though she has never been to school is even more wiser than you, cause her wisdom can not be compared to any wisdom that i shall gain or you shall gain no matter how many books i study or how many researches i make. so my point is learn to differentiate the correct statements to the discussions taking place on LT from your wrong statements.
Peace your PHD and MUSUNGU holders!!!
#47 Comment By Moscow never sleeps) On January 14, 2013 @ 11:38 am
Pipo an studying abroad i i can tell you that all wee need to change our educational system is to strengthen maths and other sciences !! Making local languages more prominent will take us backs!! con there are no scientific terms in Lunga or Lozi!! What they intend to do will make as face the problem that Tanzania if Face! Be careful before you kill Zed skils
#48 Comment By PHILOSOPHER On January 14, 2013 @ 3:42 pm
I thought you know that most scientific terms are not in ENGLISH LANGUAGE but we learn them in english. What can make us fail to learn in our local language if we can manage to learn them in a second foreign language. kekekekkekeke
#49 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:35 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#50 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:01 am
No scientific names in Lunga? Is adansonia digitata an english name? Do you even know what that is?
#51 Comment By Uncle Bob On January 14, 2013 @ 11:42 am
Uncle Bob, I challenge you Mr Minister to set up a school or University that exclusively teaches in your mother tongue and see what progress that brings about. In Zambia, we are so lucky that every child first begins by learning the language spoken in its environment. Just on this, your suggestion holds no water. And why do you want to bring about change when there is no problem. Let our children learn more English because it is the main medium of communication. I lived in Italy and some universities that taught exclusively in their local language could not compete with the ones that taught in English in terms of admission numbers. The world is an oyster and Zambia is not an island. Suntweeee!!!!!!
#52 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:03 am
Why are you so defensive. The man did not talk about schools where local languages are the exclusive modes of instruction. E bututu bu!
#53 Comment By dontcare On January 14, 2013 @ 11:45 am
Language issues in Education is not the way to go. Languages can be taught in schools but the whole curriculum should not be taught in that particular language. It would mean bringing in teachers who fluently speak the language and thereby killing One Zambia one Nation.
Do not look very far, your honorable. Take one of the neighboring countries which embarked on a local language. They are now disadvantaged because the citizenry can not handle high ranking jobs. They are not blaming it on Kenya and other countries that their jobs are being stolen. I do not think we should go that way.
#54 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 11:47 am
It is a very good proposal, hopefully every Zambian will wake up one day and be able to express himself/herself in all major languages or even at best in all local dialects. Proper national developments can only be achieved through the production of knowledge in mother tongues. It is very easy to tap into hidden potential knowledge embedded in Zambian youths which has not been extracted for a long time because of too much concentration on the imperialists language/s aimed at suppressing our rich cultures and mother tongues.
Let Zambian academics work with the local masses in producing knowledge for Zambia and the world at large. The very same knowledge can be translated into foreign languages and in return empower our indeginous masses by benefiting from sales of the given knowledge.
#55 Comment By Goncalves On January 14, 2013 @ 1:32 pm
I speak Lozi, Bemba, Tonga and Nyanja. This has nothing to do with the education system but personal interest and me been a liberal at heart. It is only tribalists who fail to express themselves in more than 3 Zambian languages. Stop being insular that way you wont have the excuse of diluting and demeaning the education system with st.upid social engineering from the 60s!
#56 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 2:32 pm
@Gonclaves#15.1
Your uncritical approach saves no tangible purpose not even in a remotest manner except just to feed into your common personalised belief.
I am fluent in several African languages for instance, Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana, Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Helelo, Ovambo, Tsutho and, I speak several imperialists languages such as Dutch, French, English, Germany, Afrikaans but what benefits have I contributed to the empowerment of our masses in form of ownership of the production of world knowledge in which our people have a rightful claim, and the correct answer is nothing.Therefore, the people who are insulating the neglect perpetuated by imperialists steming from the colonial era to this modern era are people such as yourselves who attach anything less than scientific to our mother tongues
#57 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 2:50 pm
@Gloncaves#15.1
There is nothing wrong with protecting the patent rights of the custodians of rare knowledge (indeginous masses) which is overwhelmingly presumed to be primitive by western scholars and this is a general view held by most modern educated uncritical Africans who are contributing to the destruction of any hopes in empowering our people across the continent.
I forgive you for building a wall around yourself in which western views are taken for granted and no attempts are made to question why is it that Africans are compelled to buy into this false belief that development and peace are only possible through the usage of imperialists languages at the expense of our mother tongues. I refuse to partner with any individual/s with such unpopular internalisations.
#58 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:32 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#59 Comment By Goncalves On January 15, 2013 @ 7:20 am
@ Boom and Whatever. You’re one of a kind. The Helelo and Tsutho languages do not exist anywhere else except in your head. Man remember to always take your medicines!
#60 Comment By kwa george On January 14, 2013 @ 11:47 am
I DON’T EASILY SUBSCRIBE TO PEOPLE WHO CANT DIFFERENTIATE WHAT IS MORE COLONIAL BETWEEN THE LANGUAGE AND THE PUBLIC ORDER ACT WHILE MAKING THEIR STATEMENTS USING THE SAME ENGLISH.
#61 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:10 am
It is ironic, yet painfully true. And that, my friend, is the reason. If we had hoisted our local languages shortly after independence, like Tanzania and Kenya did, this would not be an issue today. In all countries south of us, you would be hard squeezed to find a Yobali who does not speak a local language. In Zambia bazula mu drum na mu 20L.
#62 Comment By Beerman lungu (Home affairs). On January 14, 2013 @ 11:49 am
Mushuto mushota mushota.Your name should have been mushombo.
#63 Comment By Kanyengambeta On January 14, 2013 @ 12:06 pm
What is Mushombo Beerman? Sounds like something ugly.
#64 Comment By bruno On January 14, 2013 @ 11:59 am
chikala !!!!!! kabimba honestly walipena…if you want to remove some stupid subjects i can agree with you not ati english bla bla bla whats your problem kanshi first gbm then lubinda nomba ati english
#65 Comment By Blue Blood On January 14, 2013 @ 12:04 pm
In what capacity was he saying all these things? Is he acting Minister of Education? So in PF ministers are allowed to stray into matters of other ministries. For instance in this case the Minister of Legal Affairs is discussing things that the Minister of Education should be addressing. This is confusing.
#66 Comment By Kamanga part 1 On January 14, 2013 @ 12:16 pm
Ba Joseph Goebbels tapapita day ninshi nabachayapo ka propaganda! Tumoneniko pa Zed.
#67 Comment By Infidels Baghdad Zulu On January 14, 2013 @ 12:19 pm
“English is a foreign language.” Show me one university in the world where your children will be allowed to write a dissertation in Tonga or Nyanja. I am not surprised that the likes of Mushota can even have the audacity to insult fellow Zambians and boast about her so called “degrees” using the kind of ‘English’ that sounds as though she was being pulled backwards through a hedge while she was writing. It’s all Dog’s dinner!
By the way who is the minister of education, maybe he can speak some sense?
#68 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:13 am
What’s your point? Kekekekeke!
#69 Comment By The Engineer (Australia) On January 14, 2013 @ 12:24 pm
Thank God my kids will not be subjected to that BS
#70 Comment By Mount Kilimanjaro On January 14, 2013 @ 4:01 pm
thats lowlessness my friend
#71 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:14 am
Yobali mukati na kunse!
#72 Comment By THE SAINT On January 14, 2013 @ 12:29 pm
English is the language that has united us as ONE Zambia, ONE nation. Otherwise we will be like Nigerians.
#73 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 12:45 pm
@Mushota#8
Hey, lol you somewhat sound good though you might be lonely considering that you are unable to communicate your worries to a responsive partner who can in turn address such matters psychologically.
Please, do not leave such burnouts untreated because they can easily be a serious source of a disease. Seek counselling and medical treatment, a clinical psychologist trained to prescribe medication, prefereably one with a post doctoral masters in science in pharmacology will help you alot my dear. Look after yourself stop worrying about other individuals and always be positive. Do not be surrounded by people/a person with negative intentions/thoughts
#74 Comment By nshilimuemba On January 14, 2013 @ 12:52 pm
Let people speak what they want you can’t speak all languages ,but that which is common in the whole world will do for international communication ,but never do away with your mother tongue iam in uk I speak english but at home I speak bemba with my family never you lock. Out your children from the world it could be a disaster to isolate zambia from the common world
#75 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:16 am
He is not saying lock out a language! He is saying pull them up from the landfills.
#76 Comment By Shakes Head On January 14, 2013 @ 1:07 pm
What are you DOING?!!!
#77 Comment By chills On January 14, 2013 @ 1:09 pm
Serious contradiction here.Why overhaul the ed system which he is proud of for teaching him tonga and lozi. In which other way will he promote local languages in schools?This is pure rhetoric which has no practical dimension.His complaint is that parents speak to their children in English whilst he uses sala.Lets see how he is going to convince parents to change this.
Wasnt he the first to air out Lubinda’s case?We all heard it from him then he says he doesnt want to discuss personalities
Kabimba grow up.We are not stupid
#78 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:25 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#79 Comment By Kelvn D Mulanga On January 14, 2013 @ 1:11 pm
Very Good point Mr. Kabimba, but we need you guys (PF) to be more serious and follow protocol in doing things and that is what brings success. Just talking about anything as if you have no portfolio of your own is misplaced. You are a justice minister what we want to hear more from you is how you are going to improve the endangered justice system in our country. Issues falling outside of your portfolio should be left to your fellow responsible cabinet ministers. Your inputs should be at your party level and allow the concerned minister to prepare the nation for that. We need people to speak their local languages it is very important. The use of English is important as it is one of the most developed languages learning scientific concepts and for trade world wide.
#80 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:24 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#81 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:20 am
Professor Thinks, there are also many nations who spend more billions trying to revitalize their native languages. You seem to be using railway line psychology here, latching on to a futile notion and wanting to make it sound like it’s the only plausible argument. What a patz!
#82 Comment By Aipepeta On January 14, 2013 @ 1:27 pm
On wat capacity was Kabimba saying that?i wonder,He learnt English and he is able to address pipo in English.Who is going to understnd thieves language?who is going to hear u with Tonga,Nyanja or Lozi.Chinese as a language is useless,portuguese is also becoming irrelevant now u want Zambian language…who marked this mans papers at all levels?
#83 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:24 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#84 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:22 am
“In what capacity….”
See? Kabimba is not wrong after all. After 48 years of imbibing on English you still can’t write it properly? Kekeke!
#85 Comment By chitapi-meno-ngwe-mutu On January 14, 2013 @ 1:39 pm
Is KABIMBA the guy who wants to be next president of Zambia???? My foot! I wonder what he calls Toilet Tissue in Tonga, because that is how rubbish his ideas are. Secondly, what do they call GRAVITY or MICRONUTRIENT in Tonga????? Kabimba if you have nothing to say, somtimes it is even better for you to go the toilet and sing to yourself in there. Maybe you will emerge lighter and slightly more intelligent afterwards. Otherwise, I’m now actually convinced that Kabimba it is okay we will now let you concentrate on chasing after the opposition, because where you are trying to go now , no, you will destroy things. Please focus on chasing after HH, Nevers, Lubinda, and GBM. Don’t come anywhere near the economic machinery, you brainless bunkum.
#86 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:23 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#87 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:24 am
What do they call adansonia digitata in English?
This is a clear case of internalized oppression!
#88 Comment By Zambian to the core On January 14, 2013 @ 1:44 pm
That is a problem with having leaders with independence hang over. We have been independent for over 45 years and yet people think which be like Mugabe fighting someone who has long left the ring. As some has said look at Tanzania, there going in the opposite direction of where these old people want to take us. Rwanda which use French has being trying to encourage English. While we can surely improve of skills doing away with english will be a time boom. So if you are educated in Bemba, no transfer to other parts of the country. And please do not tell me that we will choose one language (let me guess bemba). I for one will not let me children be disadvantaged. I have travelled on international programmes and seen how non-english speaking people strangle. we live in a globalised world
#89 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 2:02 pm
Please do not worry too much because even entities like yourself will be properly accommodated in the proposed new setting should it be realised, considering that your construction of english sentences is extremely poor. Thus the minister is attempting to help and empower people who are have been left out by the western educational system.
#90 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:21 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#91 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:30 am
Remember Butorous Gali? Have you listened to Ban Ki Moon speak? Heard from FIFA president lately? How about Dr. El Baradai? Did they speak your kind of English? Did they speak their local languages as they ran their international offices? What is your problem, Zambian?
#92 Comment By Tom chayila On January 14, 2013 @ 1:49 pm
WHAT DID THIS MAN STUDY?I JUST CANT PUT TOGATHER WHAT HE HAS STUDIED AND HIS POSTION IN GVT.ZAMBIA MUST BE VERY BEHIND…….KICK OUT THIS PF GVT……..
#93 Comment By red shoe On January 14, 2013 @ 2:01 pm
just look at how our Tanzania, there are tyring to run away from just using swahili and thats what we want, it is a draw back. may with skills yes, but not to run awy from english
#94 Comment By kachimbala On January 14, 2013 @ 2:02 pm
I think i should first ask the president to talk to kabimba. To us the outsideers it looks like pf is a govt of disorder. Can the head of state move in & bring sanity into his govt.
#95 Comment By Ricky Bobby? On January 14, 2013 @ 2:14 pm
Interesting that the teaching of English allows him to address people from different tribes in Zambia. I wonder what would have happened if he had addressed them in Sala? Frankly, English is the unifier in Zambia and that learning in English at school does not mean that you won’t learn Nyanja, Lozi, etc or whatever language is spoken in your area.
#96 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:32 am
And learning Nyanja does not mean you will not learn English or French!
#97 Comment By ba SEBA On January 14, 2013 @ 2:21 pm
I get 40 dollars an hour just for teaching English. what the ….k ba minister?
#98 Comment By Observer On January 14, 2013 @ 2:32 pm
When did this man become an expert in education? This man does not even have a political mandate and yet he stands there telling Zambians what is good for them! You only need to go to Tanzania and South Africa to find a 20 year old that can not make an english sentence, to realize what a disaster it would be to remove the focus on English, which is an international language.
These guys came to power with promises. What has happened to those things they promised? Where is the windfall tax and the jobs? They are so quick to move to other things before fulfilling their election promises. Who are they fooling?
#99 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 5:17 pm
I agree man these people are crazy – some of them don’t even know that non English speaking countries spend billions of dollars translating English for the local people – The man is not thinking properly – we need people who can think straight in Zambia. Can he define an atom in a local language? Or can he note a chemical reaction in a local language? it’s hideous and tiresome! Let’s just get educated, educate every Zambian at the bus terminal if Zambia is to develop. Let’s not be crazy as Zambians English rules the world – computer programming is easier and trade happens much faster in English. What are we trying to prove? really Zambian mentality must change why drop English for some underdeveloped languages that can’t define development in scientific terms 🙁 1Zambia 1Nation!
#100 Comment By kwa george On January 14, 2013 @ 2:32 pm
Carefull . I know some borders with zambia where immigration officers fail to communicate in english.
#101 Comment By martin On January 14, 2013 @ 2:39 pm
all meaning Zambians should support this too much of English. look at south Africa very proud of their language. please implement this as soon as possible.
#102 Comment By chitapi-meno-ngwe-mutu On January 14, 2013 @ 2:50 pm
Aren’t you proud of your language? Don’t you speak in your own mother tongue almost everywhere you go in Zambia? You people, what kind of inferiority complex is this that is even beginning to stop us from focussing on real issues facing the country and begin to discuss silly things like children. Who forces you to speak English? Do you really want to learn biology in your mother-tongue when you don’t even have the word for INSULIN? Even the Chinese have realised that they have to go English and are busy sending their children for first under-graduate and post-graduate studies in UK and USA. Tanzania who started off on a silly idea like Kabimba is propositing are busy sending their children to Zambia where they come to learn English instead of Swahili. And then you want us to go back!
#103 Comment By Mbo Sam On January 14, 2013 @ 2:43 pm
Ba Boss ba Kabimba, please let us learn from the Tanzanian experience before we abandone English all together.
Tanzania abandoned English after gaining independence, what happened years later?
The most important thing is to define language and how it helps the people who use it. Politicking about a language is a waste of money, time and resouces. Zambia cannot afford to waste anything. Let us move forwards please ba Boss Kabimba nangu muli ba lawyer wa maka.
#104 Comment By Mbo Sam On January 14, 2013 @ 2:58 pm
#38 Martin, are you lost? Which is the official language of South Africa? The Bantu languages of Zulu and Xosa are useful locally but they swim along with English and Africaans. All the Four languages are useful in South Africa but internationally they mainly fall on the use of English.
Don’t be emotional Martin. Where do we really stand as Zambians with our 72 languages and dialects? Mr Kabimba is a very good man but I beg to differ with him over language and education.
#105 Comment By Observer On January 14, 2013 @ 6:14 pm
In South Africa, there are nine official languages. It is not compulsory to learn English and one can qualify for college and university with other languages. Having nine official language was a political decision which has not served the masses well, but pleases voters. The education system as a whole is not competitive internationally despite the vast resources available in this economy. In short, English is just another language there and it is also the business language.
#106 Comment By chitapi-meno-ngwe-mutu On January 14, 2013 @ 6:34 pm
@ OBSERVER – don’t visit other countries for two days and start admiring things that will only take you backwards. Have you actually worked with a local South african in South africa before??? Please, don’t rush copying things you don’t even have details about. You have no idea how desparate the academic situation is in South africa because local chpas can hardly understand what is written in Physics textbooks and other subjects written in English. Those romatic thoughts died in the 20th century. Stop dreaming and work hard with what you have. Changing to your local language won’t bring you meali-meal tomorrow. Secondly, right now you speak your local language at home, in the office, in the bars, in the streets, even in schools – now, tell me: why IS your life still rubbish????
#107 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 7:47 pm
@Chitapi-meno#41.2
You have no idea of what you are attempting to discuss in this discourse. First, South Africa has alot of research led universities ranked in the top one hundred universities and top two universities worldwide.
Second, the top four universities in Africa are all South African universities and these facts are compiled by reputable various world-university ranking bodies.
Third, most South African universities are compareable to the likes of Harvard, Stanford, Yale or Oxford universities.
I can agree with you if your argument is that our primary education or some of our high school learners are not as smart as their African counterparts such as Zambians, Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Ghananians, Kenyanians or Egyptians.Alot of Americans, Europeans,Asians are at our Univers
#108 Comment By Tigress On January 14, 2013 @ 3:03 pm
Next they will want students to write their PHD thesis in Bemba, how dull this jerk is. English is an international language and can enable you to communicate with most countries in the world. Kabimba must have smoked way too much pot before making such a stupid statement! Let him teach his kids and leave the children of Zambia to learn at their own pace!!!
#109 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:41 am
If the target audience will be local people, why not?
you remind me of one person who suggested that Nollywood movies should not mix English with local languages such as Igbo and Yuroba. Should have seen how Naija came dropped down on him! They spoke with one voice: They are made for people who have no language problems like he did.
#110 Comment By WAKE UP TO GLOBALISATION…! On January 14, 2013 @ 3:18 pm
Colleagues, firstly, merely changing the language of instruction does not guarantee a well schooled child. This is because there are many other factors that are have a material effect on the quality of an educational system: teacher training, leadership and management, facilities, etc. Secondly, as much as we are a sovereign country that should surely have its own identity, there is no denial that we are also part of the global village. As such, whatever changes we embrace / introduce have to be relevant to both contexts: as a local environment and also as a global player. Local languages with English as primary instruction medium, should, therefore, be encouraged up to Grade 12 (or so). Thereafter, and as part of global village, we can go on with English as world’s most spoken language.
#111 Comment By Floyd Chitalu On January 14, 2013 @ 3:33 pm
The suggestion of teaching local languages is good in so much as we do not leave our languages behind. But to start condemning English language today is being unrealistic. Replacing international language now is surely a no brainer. No need of talking about colonial this, colonial that this time. Just do what you are capable of doing. Ask the Germans, Russian, French, Chinese, Sweedish, Danish, etc and they will all tell you that English is more international than many other languages. Our case in Zambia is even complicated. 72 dialects, 7 main languages, which one will be universal to all Zambians? You will never reprogramme our languages history in this short PF term. Be real. English is here to stay and is a common ground for intertribe and international communication transactions.
#112 Comment By lightning On January 14, 2013 @ 3:37 pm
what kabimba is talking about is utopian and an ideal situation but far from reality.You cannot develop an education system which does not take into account global trends where english and french have emerged as international languages to easy communication barriers.Kabimba is a product of this education system;is he irrelevant to third world needs?
#113 Comment By concernedcitizen On January 14, 2013 @ 3:42 pm
kabimba trying to carter for the majority PF supporters as they don’t understand English.
#114 Comment By Lala Boy On January 14, 2013 @ 3:45 pm
Ba Kabimba thinks he’s minister without portfolio
#115 Comment By MJ On January 14, 2013 @ 3:55 pm
I THOUGHT SATA’s boot-licker was Justice Minister. if he is, pliz tell the education minister to deliver such a speech before we misunderstand u comrade.
#116 Comment By PHILOSOPHER On January 14, 2013 @ 4:02 pm
What a good idea because the first language of a child is part of their personal, social and cultural identity that help them to learn most complicated skills without difficulties. The most sucessiful scientists and technologists have discovered and inveted their products using mother tongue languages. Mostly, Zambians are good at theories that practicals because our thinking capacity is being limited by english language. Beyong english language, we are limited. For example, in arts, music, crafts, technology, medicine, mechanics, discovery etc, the most people who are competent are those who have past through inform education without formal papers and some never been to school. What a shame?
#117 Comment By Zambian to the core On January 15, 2013 @ 10:27 am
Just changing to Zambian language will not change that.
#118 Comment By musangu muzaza On January 14, 2013 @ 4:16 pm
in malaysian universities it is allowed to answer an examination in their mother tongue and they are developing not going far in south Africa it is the same practice all the these are developed states…..it will be good for Zambia as well
#119 Comment By Kanyengambeta On January 14, 2013 @ 4:55 pm
English is a universal language. We need it to communicate globally. We can add local languages to promote our own but without abandoning English.
#120 Comment By Accountant On January 14, 2013 @ 4:56 pm
In Mozambique English is now being taught from grade one right through to college and university… yet they were colonised by portugal.. In a meeting a attended recently abroad, It was intresting to see how other countries admire the english language
#121 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:47 am
Because they admired it, you think you were shoulders above everyone’s head right? Did you know that your clinging to English has contributed to your negotiating contracts from a weaker point? Because you have no pride. The English you speak is substandard – Zanglish, you call it. Where will it take you?
#122 Comment By Professor Thinks On January 14, 2013 @ 4:57 pm
You people must learn that Africa never had any educated philosophers to further African language and hence have break throughs in technology, mathematics, science etc….. You must first have linguists to translate every bit of information which might not be easy for the local people to understand. [2] E=MC2, thermodynamics, Entropy, programming…all these theories are better understood in English and can never be understood in local languages. Intelligence and IQ of one does not depend on whatever language one speaks, it purely depends on the brain’s structure to comprehend the incomprehensible, which is what the current government must be doing. Just educate the local people properly in English – It rules the…
#123 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:49 am
Why don’t you start? You can put up a strong argument against but you can’t put in the time to even prepare a computer cheatsheet in Nyanja. Where are the linguists gonna come from if not you?
#124 Comment By A Phiri ana bwe… On January 14, 2013 @ 4:59 pm
The costs still outweigh the benefits. Anything is doable though if we are mindful of not developing a new class system where future generations are automatically excluded from advancement due to an inability to articulate themselves in a global world no matter how smart they are. Mathematics, music, chemistry etc. are universal skills where the language of learning is not an issue but this does not go across the board. It may encourage our publishing industry but if we cannot currently give every child a desk it seems to me we have bigger problems than colonial inherited language.
#125 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 5:28 pm
Points to think about are as follows; the minister did not suggest that Zambia must stop using English now or abandon the usage of this hegemonic language in the future. And when his utterrances are rewound, he correctly argued that the status of mother tongues should be raised to the same status of the English language.
The implications of this academically sound proposal are that, our so called primitive custodians of rare rich knowledge which has been manipulated by western scholars and turned into their own without paying loyalties to rightful owners will be remunerated for their local primitive knoledge; this argument feeds into the creation of skills and much needed employment opportunities and it strengthens the export of written scientific work to foreign areas .
#126 Comment By sana On January 14, 2013 @ 5:35 pm
Oh my gosh! wellcome back Mr Boom long time no hear, heart break from Mushota is dealt with? otherwise LT has not changed much though rebased it’s format, thats the only new thing, with news, same old rubbish of finger pointing and arrests targeted at wrong pipo, am sure you have noticed!
#127 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 6:09 pm
@Sana#55.1
Thank you for your compliments lol.
Otherwise, I am busy with my postgraduate studies and running my own private business so as to balance and manage my time correctly. Nice to hear/read from family members on this web-sight.
Keep on contributing and this is exactly what ordinary Zambians and academics need. Our contributions will form a rare union between academics and the custodians of our primitive knowledge (locals) which gives birth to world knowledge production. And, flowing from that is the reduction of the present growing divide between the rich and the poor masses. This approach helps to transfer the wealth to the most marginalised members of the community. Lets keep the fire burning and it is only us who can empower ourselves through such initiatives of elevations.
#128 Comment By Zambian to the core On January 15, 2013 @ 10:39 am
I thought the Minister is clearing advocating to have english replaced with Zambian languages. What has prompted this suggestion is to simply accommodate the illiterate friends of the PF. I am made to understand that most board meetings are not taking in bemba due to the fact that most appointees have a challenge communicating in english. And please do not worry about my gramme on a blog, I have not time to edit or construct the submission as if its official. If u can noit understand my contribution just move and read those that you can understand
#129 Comment By sana On January 14, 2013 @ 5:42 pm
My venacular is terrible especially spoken, sometimes i wish i could speak my mother tongue 100% better than any other language.
#130 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 5:48 pm
The commonly accepted argument among educated men and women especially our western brothers is that anything scientific is connected to imperialists mediums of instructions and this is wrong. On the other hand, the same western scholars further argue that our mother tongues cannot claim ownership of scientific innovations because our mother tongues are constructed on the foundations of instincts and barbaric acts. This western argument by analogy implicates westerners in the biggest crimes against humanity. Further, Africans suffer from double psychological blind; either way Africans are trapped in the cycle of self-blame or even if they project a bored argument, they are labelled as uncivilised or they confirm the dangers which imprison westerners which are that we are dangerous, criminal
#131 Comment By Nkana baby On January 14, 2013 @ 6:12 pm
Kabimba , look at the clothes you are wearing , they are colonial , go wear something indigenous when you talk like that !
#132 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:53 am
Mwalanda mwapwa?
#133 Comment By Down to Earth dude On January 14, 2013 @ 6:15 pm
LMAO…
#134 Comment By Down to Earth dude On January 14, 2013 @ 6:17 pm
I speak Bemba, nyanja, Lozi and guess where i learn’t this from.. Streets.
#135 Comment By Nigga On January 14, 2013 @ 6:20 pm
Winter the short bunyani is talking nonsense. Power has gone to his little head. Improve the living standards of poor you little man. Channel the money where its most needed. Colonialism? In fact, what you should be doing is improving the standards of English taught in our school.
Aka ka muntu kapuba mwe. Ati justice minister, ata.
#136 Comment By Fool me once On January 14, 2013 @ 6:48 pm
To turn your back on a global language is a recipe for going backwards. Far better would be to improve the quality of English and prepare for the 21st Century!
#137 Comment By BOOM & WHATEVER On January 14, 2013 @ 6:48 pm
I like what I write and no apologies will ever be offered for such an honest stancy. Call it a radicle position or a response to oppressive and repressive tendencies, I care less or at best I do not subject myself to unnecessary responses, thank you. ‘I like what I write’
#138 Comment By Truth hates On January 14, 2013 @ 7:24 pm
Just teach the local languages in school and leave English as official. This is coz no tribe in Zambia will agree to make one language official.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
#139 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:55 am
But we can have four official langauges, not just English!
#140 Comment By Voodoo On January 14, 2013 @ 7:24 pm
Finally a mention to overhaul Zambia’s education system, it is way overdue. In most my comments I’ve urged improvements and focus in STEM ( science, technology and Mathematics). As many have pointed out spoken and written English skills are vital as most of our trade partners use it. China is a huge market and trades heavily in Africa; Zambia has a healthy population of Chinese ‘investors’ so it would be wise to consider teaching that, like we do French. As regards indigenous languages, I think that’s up to the parents to teach that, let the education system focus on an improved curriculum that reflects areas in which the country seeks to make great strides and provide a well qualified workforce.
#141 Comment By Voodoo On January 14, 2013 @ 7:35 pm
However, I am doubtful Zambia presently the political will nor the intellectual capability in the class of politicians we have. Please prove me wrong. If there’s really a serious push to improve eduction, among other things that need improvement, it would be nice to have tangible plans for implementation, sustainability, cost and benefit/ comparison as well as relevance. I am sure educators can make recommendations that hopefully our lackluster politicians can use to device lawful changes that will actually benefit this cause. But then there’s the issue of rampant corruption, kaya tiza bona.
#142 Comment By Zambia the blessed country On January 14, 2013 @ 7:55 pm
Zambians speak the best english amongst African countries.
#143 Comment By Observer On January 14, 2013 @ 11:28 pm
Liar, liar. How did you reach that conclusion? Next you will be saying we are the best dressed!!
#144 Comment By Kumar On January 15, 2013 @ 4:56 am
Zanglsh?
#145 Comment By Chambeshi Metals On January 14, 2013 @ 9:32 pm
The English language is not to blame for the failures in our education system. If the reason to start teaching our kids in vernacular is for purposes of reclaiming back our cultural and traditional values I support the move. However, our education system failures can be attributed to the system being rotten to the core. Case in point. Hapunda gets expelled from UNZA for cheating during a law school exam, but still manages to complete his degree at Cavendish University. By the way, Hapunda is not the first to be expelled from UNZA for cheating. Questions. If one is expelled from UNZA, why should another University accept them? Is Cavendish the place where cheaters complete their degrees? Are Cavendish degrees recognised in Zambia’s education system? Where are the authorities?
#146 Comment By futureZed On January 14, 2013 @ 10:11 pm
You are 48 years too late!! instead of pointing fingers at history, you’ve had nearly 50 years of freedom to develop your country, culture and language and failed miserably. Why would you want to throw away a language that unites the entire country? If it was not for English, Zambia would have been engulfed in tribal conflicts. Most European countries are united by common language. Instead of talking nonsense, why don’t you just compliment English with the local languages but first you need to translate high level materials in to these languages and make it optional in schools. Concentrate on developing the country and not going backwards.
#147 Comment By The Jackal On January 14, 2013 @ 10:42 pm
It is really important that we have our own developed education system. Local languages should be encouraged but we should leave English language as it is. Many countries in Europe use their own languages but their are certain issues that they just need to do in English such as Computer programming languages, in any case we will need English. We just need to encourage the citizenry to take the language issue serious. It is a pity that most of us cannot speak our mother tongue fluently. Good idea PF but do not try to wipe out the English language in the education system, it will be the biggest blunders ever!
#148 Comment By Observer On January 14, 2013 @ 11:32 pm
These leaders make all these funny changes, yet they will send their children abroad to learn. The same way that they go outside the country to treat their sicknesses and do nothing about our hospitals. Shameful
#149 Comment By chinyama On January 15, 2013 @ 12:18 am
The current primary teaching of local language should be maintained,and english at the higher institutions of learning also maintained,zimbabwe has it easy due to the dominance of shona and ndebele which allows office transactions in the same two tribes and also the beef they have with whites,our situation is different when am in mongu office i simply use english and every body knows it normal.english ensures 1zed 1nation.
#150 Comment By LORD VOLDEMORT (THE DARK LORD) On January 15, 2013 @ 1:14 am
What an anus.
#151 Comment By Jeff Mwanza On January 15, 2013 @ 3:37 am
iwe kabimba please in what capacity are you making those proposals???? surely, there much more pressing issues affecting the education sector in zambia. children are not guaranteed to seat on the desks and teachers’ conditions of srvice are pathetic.. are you now the new minister of education?? I do not aggree with such propsed changes and dont impose such weired ideas on people because zambia has had no issues with language identity!!!!!!!!!!!!
#152 Comment By Browser On January 15, 2013 @ 8:06 am
Even though the idea makes so much sense, but the feeling of us using a local language as official does not just click for me, in that we have 73 languages, so which languages want to be inferior to the other and which tribe will accept, so in as much as i want to support my languages after studying in Russian language for 4 years now, we need to put into consideration that when you do not understand English, its really difficult for you to make a mark on the world market and programming market and these two fields are the ones driving the global. Worse off anything that we do we will not be making a mark as the outside world will never understand us not even a bit, it will take years to teach our languages to the outside world. Russia is an example but for them they have only 1 language.
#153 Comment By Mwana_Nkana On January 15, 2013 @ 10:08 am
First of all in what capacity was our minister of inJustice making this pronouncement?rhetoric..rhetoric..rhetoric..ise tifuna development!back in the day mu undergrad i studied mu chizungu..oh how i wish all those formulaes and theories were taught to me in my mother language..limbi nga na lelya total pa total..mxxxm can this man stop distracting us from issues of development atase imisango ububi…education commences at the knee ..its not for govt to teach ur children vitundu vanu..i was educated strictly in english but my parents took it upon themselves to teach us their languages..and we learnt other languages like nyanja and bemba from our friends
#154 Comment By Mukame On January 15, 2013 @ 10:28 am
Zambian education system has been due for a major overhaul for a very long time. It is nice to know that our politicians (at least one of them) have just just awakened to that fact. As Kabimba says, our education system is not relevant at all. However, what surprises me is that he is blaming the colonialists. Really? After all these years? We need radical reformers in government. Unfortunately, successive ministers of education have been lazy and unimaginative. Effort has to be put into making sure that every child stays on in school up to grade 12. However, some pupils must be allowed to follow a different, non-academic curriculum. We continue to throw potentially good artisans and technicians on the scrap heap simply because we want everyone to pass academic subjects.
#155 Comment By Mukame On January 15, 2013 @ 10:56 am
… As for the language debate, I think it helps with literacy to teach vernacular languages. It is a proven fact that kids learn to read earlier and faster in their own language. The problem in Zambia is that we do not have people who can teach the likes of Bemba, Tonga, etc. properly. But I think it is important. However, English is essential to our competitiveness as an economy and as individuals in the global market. Therefore, it should remain our official language.
#156 Comment By Zambian to the core On January 15, 2013 @ 10:59 am
WE need to be serious with the ideas that we put forward as a country. for over 45 years english has been the language of instruction & i see no need of changing this. The skills the Ministers whats can still be acquired and have been acquired in the past. We have produced artisans for the mines and other industries before. What has changed in my view is that we have concentrated on subjects that mostly require formal employment. All the trade schools changed programmes from trade to business and administrative courses. It is these same institutions that are now being turned into universities which will only increase the gap if we do not create more trade institutes. Another challenge has on the part of government providing opportunities for the increased workforce
#157 Comment By Zambian to the core On January 15, 2013 @ 11:09 am
When I went to primary school in the 80’s, we had practical courses such as metalwork & woodwork, production unit (practical agriculture) which have all disappeared from our school system. What remains if you drop out at grade 7 or below is a bit numeracy and english. This is what needs fixing not engish as a language of instruction. The other issue that need correction is the profile of the teaching profession. In most cases teachers are those that failed to get into another other programme particularly at primary school level. this affect the quality of teachers that we get.
#158 Comment By Zambian to the core On January 15, 2013 @ 11:17 am
Most students that have passed through the Zambian education system excel at masters level or in employment in other countries. For me it is an indication that there may things we are doing correctly which we should not abandon just to make politicians feel good about themselves. Doctors, nurses, engineers, etc, for example excel in the environment where they are provided with tools for their trade which they lack in most cases back home. What to you expect a doctor to do when UTH has very few medical equipment and lacks even very basic medicines.
So before we go on dismantling the system, let use be sure where the problems real are and find practical solutions not this day dreaming by the PF and its blind supporters
#159 Comment By zero option On January 15, 2013 @ 12:50 pm
How many languages or tribes or dialects do we have in Zambia? Can we compare our size with Nigeria, South Africa? When we were growing up, we used to learn Icibemba in Chingola while at primary school. By the time we finished secondary school, Icibemba was one of the options at secondary school level but tell me how far have we gone? If countries like Japan are trying by all means to introduce English as an Office language what then does Wynter want? Certain terminologies are difficult to replace and constructing a technical language is not only a pipe dream in Zambia, its simply unattainable. 74 local languages a book each while if English is adopted as it is only one book. What wynter must say is that we do not need English to be a determining factor to obtain a school certificate
#160 Comment By zero option On January 15, 2013 @ 12:52 pm
but we should relegate English to TOEFL levels where its used to gauge minimum knowledge needed for universal communication. On that i can support him because there are so many bright brains in sciences who lamentably failed to make it at higher institutions of learning all in the name of having a 6 or 7 grade in English while they have distinctions in other subjects.
#161 Comment By zero option On January 15, 2013 @ 1:01 pm
za winter or wynter which ever comes first, please keep quiet!
#162 Comment By Humphrey On January 15, 2013 @ 3:26 pm
I can believe Wynter’s mindset! That is a high level case of reverse-thinking. What kind of leaders are we breeding on Zambian grounds these days? So hypocritical, does this man know how many things we’d have to rid off our society in order to do away with everything that we adopted or inherited from our colonial masters? The education system he’s talking about wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for the colonial masters. There are better things to worry about than this ba Wynter naimwe. Do not refuse to develop. Shift your mind.
#163 Comment By hanongo On January 29, 2013 @ 1:05 pm
what does wynter know from sata that the old man allows him to behave this stupid..?
i wonder.
#164 Comment By genko On August 13, 2014 @ 2:45 pm
Sometimes those who fear to change they do so because they never know what the future will be like. What is there to be afraid? Is your language too awkward to replace english? Africa wake up! You have the power to do everything. Give a little thought! Change for the future. I have always wished Malawi to change and start using our Chichewa. For communication purposes english not be left . Do not run away from whom you are. Africa!!! We can!!!!!