Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2025
Wajibu wa kuwa na lugha ya watu wote :— Afrika Mashariki ni nchi ya watu wengi; makao ya makabila kadha wa kadha; dini na madhehebu yasiyohesabika; lugha mbalimbali zaidi ya mia tano hutumika. Lugha ni alama ya umoja wa taifa. Kwa hiyo pana wajibu wa kuwapo lugha ya watu wote.
Haja ya haraka ya wakati huu :— Ukosefu wa lugha ya watu wote ni pingamizi kubwa ya maungano ya nchi za Afrika Mashariki na watu wa majimbo mbalimbali. Mambo ya tawala, kazi zihusuzo watu wote na ikitisadi hulazimisha kuwa na lugha ya watu wote ili kila mtu apate kushiriki ndani yake na kuchanga kwa ajili ya wema wa wote. Umoja wa taifa hutaka sana lugha ya watu wote iwe kiungo cha kufahamiana na chombo cha kuchukua watu katika elimu na mapatano. Kiarabu kilikuwa lugha kubwa kwa Waislamu wa pande hizi. Kimetajirisha sana Kiswahili. Lugha ya pili kubwa ilikuwa Kidachi. Kilitumika sana Tanganyika, lakini kama lugha iliyotangulia, hakikuweza vile vile kuwa lugha ya watu wote.
Kiingereza au Kiswahili :— Kwa bahati mbaya lugha hizi mbili zinakalifiwa sasa kupigana kama chongowe na nyangumi. Wasio Waafrika wadai Kiingereza kuwa bora nacho kitumike katika halmashauri. Waafrika wataka matumizi ya Kiswahili, kwa sababu kina usawa wa lugha mbalimbali za wenyeji ndani yake. Kwa hivi, kina ubora wake ufaao kutumika katika halmashauri pia. Zaidi yake watu wa pande hizi hawana urithi mwingine wa haki kuliko Kiswahili. Katika kila pigano upande mmoja hushinda. Hapana shaka Kiingereza kitashinda, lakini yatabiriwa kwamba ushindi wake utakuwa wa kitambo tu. Hayamkini kwamba wenyeji wa mahali popote katika ulimwengu waweza kuridhika kuishi katika lugha ngeni milele.
Pingamizi nyingine :— Kuna watu wasemao kwamba mafundisho ya Kiswahili hayawezi kuongoza katika elimu na matafiti makubwa. Hii ni dhana ya wageni. Wenyeji hawasemi hivi. Hasa wao wana imani kwamba kila mdharau chake ni mwizi. Kwa imani hii washikilia matumizi ya Kiswahili kwa hali iwayo yote. Acha elimu na matafiti makubwa yafasiriwe kwa Kiswahili. Misahafu na kazi nyingine bora zimekwisha anza kufasiriwa kwa ufasaha na nahau kubwa kabisa.
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