Na. Adabeth Mwanambuu-BAKITA

Wahitimu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Tumaini kampasi ya Dar es Salaam wametakiwa kuendana na mabadiliko ya dunia katika mifumo ya teknolojia ili kujiongezea kipato na kujiajiri.

Hayo yamesemwa na Profesa Florens Luoga jijini Dar es Salaam katika kusanyiko la maandalizi ya mahafali ya wahitimu wa chuo hicho kwa mwaka 2022/2023.

“Kutokana na mabadiliko ya dunia kwa sasa Watanzania tunapaswa kujikita katika teknolojia ya kidigiti ili kuendana na uchumi wa kidijiti”, amesema Prof. Luoga

Amebainisha kuwa biashara kubwa na ya nafuu kwa sasa inafanyika kwa njia ya mtandao, njia inamfanya mwanadamu kupata bidhaa mahali alipo na kwa bei nafuu kuliko kuifuata kwa wazalishaji au wauzaji.

Amefafanua kuwa bidhaa za Kiswahili pia zinaingia katika mfumo wa mauzo ambayo yanaweza kuwasaidia wazalishaji wa bidhaa za Kiswahili kurahisisha bidhaa zao na kupata wateja wengi.

Bidhaa kama vitabu, ufundishaji wa Kiswahili mtandaoni, tafsiri na ukalimani na mambo mengine yahusuyo lugha ya Kiswahili yanaweza kuwafikia watumiaji wa kugha hiyo kwa njia nyepesi kabisa ambayo ni matumizi ya simu.

Prof. Luoga ameeleza kuwa vifaa vya kiteknolojia vimerahisisha mawasiliano ya kijamii na ya kiuchumi kwani ikiwa mtu hawezi kuendana na mabadiliko hayo hawezi kufanya biashara. Simu zimekuwa ndio kila kitu katika uchumi wa kidijiti kwa sasa.

“Watu wanaagiza, wananua na kuuza bidhaa kwa njia ya mtandao. Watu wanasoma maandiko mbalimbali kwa njia ya simu zao, ukibaki unategemea mtu aje kununua kitabu au gazeti au andiko lako utashindwa kufanya biashara. Jambo la muhimu ni kubadilika na kuendana na mahitaji ya kiulimwengu. Uza, nunua na agiza bidhaa mtandaoni.” Ameongeza Prof. Luoga.

Ameongeza kusema kuwa maendeleo hayo ya kiteknolojia yamesaidia kwa kiasi kikubwa katika ukusanyaji wa mapato kwa uhakika. Serikali na watu binafsi wanaweza kupata mapato kutokana na bidhaa zao pasi na kukumbana na changamoto ya upotevu au wizi wa fedha.

Akizungumzia changamoto za uchumi wa kidijiti, Prof. Luoga ameeleza kuwa uchumi huo usipochukuliwa kwa uangalifu unaweza kuleta utengano baina wa watu wenye uwezo wa kumiliki vifaa vya kiteknolojia na wale wasio na uwezo huo.

Naye Florian Kaijage, mwandishi na mtangazaji wa habari BBC, akishadadia suala la uchumi wa kidiji, amesema kuwa “mtaji mkubwa katika uchumi ni watu. Utakutana na watu, jitahidi kuwafanya watu wawe karibu yako. Lugha ndio kitu pekee kinachoweza kukufanya ukawa na mtaji wa watu. Ukiwa na watu utafanya mambo yako ya kidijiti kwa urahisi.”

Amebainisha kuwa soko lina mahitaji mengi na lina ushindani mkubwa, hivyo inabidi mtu afahamu anachotaka kufanya ili akifanye kwa ufanisi mkubwa na kuwa na nidhamu ya muda katika kitu hicho anachokifanya.

“Lugha ni muhimu sana katika kuwasilisha maudhui yako. Mathalani Kiswahili, kwa sasa kinahitajika sana duniani. Vyombo vingi vya habari vinahitaji wataalamu wa Kiswahili, hivyo ikiwa unahitaji kuwa bora katika ushindani wa soko la ajira, jifunze Kiswahili ukifahamu kwa kina ili uwe wa kipekee”, ameongeza Kaijage.

Chuo Kikuu cha Tumaini, kimeanzisha kozi ya Kiswahili kwa wanahabari ambayo imelenga kuwaandaa katika kuitumia lugha ya Kiswahili kwa ufanisi mkubwa.

The Minister for Culture, Arts and Sports Hon. Dr. Damas Ndumbaro has said that he is satisfied with the efforts made by the National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA) to promote and develop Kiswahili locally and internationally along with implementation of the National Programme for commercialization of Kiswahili.

Dr.Ndumbaro was speaking today the 6^th of October 2023 during his first visit to BAKITA since his appointment to the position by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.

He has articulated that the Agenda of the Sixth Phase Government is to ensure that Kiswahili is used in the United Nations because none of African languages is hitherto used in the organization.

“The commitment of the Government is to ensure that Kiswahili becomes the fifth language in the world and can be used in the United Nations. We shall keep advocating Kiswahili in the world through our embassies abroad, teaching Kiswahili in universities and through Tanzanian Diaspora abroad”, Dr.Ndumbaro has said.

The Minister has added that the CCM Manifesto is committed to creating jobs for the youth through Kiswahili since the language offers a lot of opportunities.

“As Kiswahili keeps growing so do opportunities unfold including penetration throughout the world”, Dr. Ndumbaro has said.

He has added that the Football Competitions to be held in 2027 in the three East African Countries will be commentated in Kiswahili.

“We want the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to use Kiswahili in those competitions so that Tanzanians and other people enjoy the opportunities offered by Kiswahili”, the Minister has added.

AMBASSADORS’ VISIT THE NATIONAL KISWAHILI COUNCIL (BAKITA)

Some of the Ambassadors who were recently appointed by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, have visited the National Kiswahili Council (BAKITA). The aim of the visit was to familiarize with the National Strategy for Commercialization of Kiswahili Language locally and internationally.

Speaking to the Ambassadors, the Executive Secretary of the National Kiswahili Council, Ms Consolata Mushi, has said that the objective of the ten-year strategy (2022 – 2032) is to make Kiswahili the language of wider communication in Africa so that it can be used to bring about political, social and economic development in Tanzania and beyond.

“As you go to your respective countries, we request you to kindly continue the efforts made by the Government to commercialize Kiswahili by establishing centers for teaching Kiswahili abroad. You are key stakeholders in promoting Kiswahili language internationally, especially given that Kiswahili has continued to win more users in the world”, said Ms. Consolata.

On his part, the leader of the entourage Hon. Ambassador Khamis Omar, said that Kiswahili is among the national values of Tanzania and the Government has strongly insisted Tanzanian embassies abroad to make special efforts to promote Kiswahili language and make it a productive national commodity.

We commend the efforts made by various institutions and organizations for changing the law on the use of language, which was giving room to authorities to choose to use either Kiswahili or a foreign language in providing information about their products and activities. Instead the law directs the use of both Kiswahili and a foreign language”, said Ambassador Omar.

In addition, he has promised that the embassies will continue to establish and strengthen centers for teaching Kiswahili to foreigners in order to continue commercializing it abroad.

The ambassadors who visited BAKITA are; Hon. Ambassador Khamis Omar, Hon. Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Abdalla, Hon. Ambassador Habibu Mohamed, Hon. Ambassador Hassani Mwamwetu, Hon. Ambassador Gelasius Byakanwa, Hon. Ambassador Major General Ramson Mwaisaka, Hon. Ambassador Dr. Bernard Kibesse and Hon. Ambassador Major General Paul Simuli.

The ambassadors are expected to go to their assigned countries soon.