English is still the major language spoken in business ,The other official languages are Chishona and Sindebele.
All schools in Zimbabwe teach English and chishona mostly taught in Mashonaland,Masvingo,Midlands and Manicaland provinces,whilst Sindebele taught in Matebeleland provinces.About 90% of the Zimbabweans are Bantu people which split into various ethnic groups of different backgrounds and ethnic dialects.
The other 10% comprises the Europeans ,Asians,Americans and the mixed races.
GOVERNMENT:As a result of the desputed election of 2008 ,Zimbabwe is now governed by three major political parties which are represented in the parliament.The parties are ZANU PF and MDC formations.Since 18 April 1980 the Republic of Zimbabwe gained full international recognition as a sovereign state.Since 2000 until 2009 Zimbabwe suffered international isolation because of disputed agrarian land reform and controversial elections which led to being sanctioned by the world powerful states as a way of honoring treaties and universal human rights they accused not being observed.The isolation has since abondoned after the formation of all inclusive government in February 2009.Although there are still many strides needs to be taken by the world powerhouses to completely remove the sanctions which some refer it as restrictive measures in both political and business environments.
Zimbabwe is a member of international bodies ,UN,WORLD BANK,IMF and regional organisation AU,SADC,COMESA.
POLITICAL SYSTEMS:The legislature of Zimbabwe consists of the President,Prime minister and bicameral Parliament.
The President is the head of state,government and commander-in-chief of the defence forces.
The president chairs cabinet of ministers , declares peace and war.
The Prime minister is the head of ministers and chairs the council of ministers.
Both the president and prime minister work in consultation with each other in government duties.The prime minister reports to the president on the daily activities of the government and is the vice chairperson of cabinet.
Parliament consists of 210 members who elected on the common roll in 210 constituencies.The Speaker of parliement conduct the sessions of the assembly whilst all the administrative duties lies with the clerk of parliment.
The upper house is the senate which consists of 60 members elected also through public ballot to represent their sanatorial constituencies.The senate president is the leader of senate ,who elected by senators.
The 10 governors are appinted by the president to represent 10 provinces and are members of parliament.The president of traditional chiefs is also a member of parliament and is elected by the chiefs' council.
There are parliamentary select commitees with powers of scrutiny over legislation .The president,members of parliament has a maximum life of five years after which are automatically dissolved and harmonised elections held which also include councillors to run the local city and rural councils.The elections are conducted by a commission called Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Currently Zimbabweans are writing their own constitution to replace both 1979 Lancaster house and 2008 Global Political Agreements.
THE JUDICATURE:Zimbabwe has a supreme court and a High Court.The High Court has unlimited original jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters and such other jurisdiction as is conferred on it.
The attoney general is the government's legal office which monitors the justice in the country.
The Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal and the Chief Justice sits in this court.
The chief Justice who is the head of the judiciary and Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president in consultation with the Judiciary Service Commission and the Prime Minister.
The High court has appellate jurisdiction and can hear at first instance ,cases concerning the infringement of Human rights in accordance of UN Declaration of Human rights.
Showing posts with label language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label language. Show all posts
Sunday, September 26, 2010
ZIMBABWE'S CULTURE AND EDUCATION ON LANGUAGE ISSUE!
Zimbabwe's culture as a national culture is trick , since it has a lot of external influence by virtue of its history pre-colonial ,colonial and post colonial era.
Culture is basically the thinking and doing of people. It comparises the dressing styles, art ,history ,craft ,philosophy ,architecture ,customs ,music ,drama ,codes of behaviour eating habits ,transport and language.
Culture is influenced by external and internal factors.It appears to be static ,but because of influenced by environment it is dynamic.
Zimbabwe 's National Cultural Policy objective 14:Promote the African language inorder to make them effective tools in the country's socio-economic development." The African languages found in Zimbabwe are Chishona and its six dialects, Ndebele ,Venda, Tonga and Shangaan. Although there are great strides in promoting African languages in Education system.
English is the still the national language as shown by communication in the press media, electronic media,courts and law,schools and most official functions in government circles.
The fact is that Zimbabwean leaders that are political ,religious and educational are without option because the language gain it memondum since the colonial era and covers the whole nation despite different ethnic groups.
The idea of promoting vernacular language in Zimbabwe can only be done at a ethic community not as national since it can frustrated by modern African elite.
The actual facts to note is that numerous letters used to communicate are from English. To reach a wider audience one has to use English which is by far used to write education books ,stationery ,notices ,road signs into Chishona or Ndebele would be too expensive though nationalistic or patriotic a gesture! The use of any African vernacular is actually unnecessary and wasteful , since English is now not just a language of colonizers ,but also for Zimbabweans.
It is fully part of Zimbabwean culture which the Zimbabweans are actually cherish.
I also noted that the NGOs promoted our ethnic languages as they donate lot of money to print books in local language . SIDA, DFID,USAID ,IRISH AID the list is endless who contributed to promotion of African languages in formal education system.The English language is effectively used to disseminate information and there may have translations if the goal is to succeed.
When it comes to language I want to argue that we should not be over zealous or disproportionately proud of vernacular languages. But we should observe how influencing is our language in communication with others. Today there are so many people who are promoting their language on the internet. They are so many Zimbabweans in diaspora who want to communicate their languages everyday. And they are so many people who may also emulate Zimbabwean culture and want to learn to speak one of the local languages.
Let also learn from those countries colonised by Portugal. These are Mozambique and Angola their experiences where Portuguese has been used to unify the numerous ethnic groups. The Portuguese in these countries is spoken even by those people who never go to school and young children ,unlike in Zimbabwe where you have to go to school to speak and write in English. In Zimbabwean schools pupils are encouraged to communicate in English for better performance in external examinations. Zimbabweans are proud of English as it enhances learning in science and technology which are the hope of mankind to provide solutions in the social challenges and where computer and information technology is dominating.
On the national dress Zimbabwe culture is gradually formulating her own dress code .
Inconclusion I believe that external influences do not destroy a culture .Remember any social civilization develop rapidly through contact with other cultures and select the best in education system.By so doing we will even become more patriotic and honourable in promoting our country's culture and its education.
Culture is basically the thinking and doing of people. It comparises the dressing styles, art ,history ,craft ,philosophy ,architecture ,customs ,music ,drama ,codes of behaviour eating habits ,transport and language.
Culture is influenced by external and internal factors.It appears to be static ,but because of influenced by environment it is dynamic.
Zimbabwe 's National Cultural Policy objective 14:Promote the African language inorder to make them effective tools in the country's socio-economic development." The African languages found in Zimbabwe are Chishona and its six dialects, Ndebele ,Venda, Tonga and Shangaan. Although there are great strides in promoting African languages in Education system.
English is the still the national language as shown by communication in the press media, electronic media,courts and law,schools and most official functions in government circles.
The fact is that Zimbabwean leaders that are political ,religious and educational are without option because the language gain it memondum since the colonial era and covers the whole nation despite different ethnic groups.
The idea of promoting vernacular language in Zimbabwe can only be done at a ethic community not as national since it can frustrated by modern African elite.
The actual facts to note is that numerous letters used to communicate are from English. To reach a wider audience one has to use English which is by far used to write education books ,stationery ,notices ,road signs into Chishona or Ndebele would be too expensive though nationalistic or patriotic a gesture! The use of any African vernacular is actually unnecessary and wasteful , since English is now not just a language of colonizers ,but also for Zimbabweans.
It is fully part of Zimbabwean culture which the Zimbabweans are actually cherish.
I also noted that the NGOs promoted our ethnic languages as they donate lot of money to print books in local language . SIDA, DFID,USAID ,IRISH AID the list is endless who contributed to promotion of African languages in formal education system.The English language is effectively used to disseminate information and there may have translations if the goal is to succeed.
When it comes to language I want to argue that we should not be over zealous or disproportionately proud of vernacular languages. But we should observe how influencing is our language in communication with others. Today there are so many people who are promoting their language on the internet. They are so many Zimbabweans in diaspora who want to communicate their languages everyday. And they are so many people who may also emulate Zimbabwean culture and want to learn to speak one of the local languages.
Let also learn from those countries colonised by Portugal. These are Mozambique and Angola their experiences where Portuguese has been used to unify the numerous ethnic groups. The Portuguese in these countries is spoken even by those people who never go to school and young children ,unlike in Zimbabwe where you have to go to school to speak and write in English. In Zimbabwean schools pupils are encouraged to communicate in English for better performance in external examinations. Zimbabweans are proud of English as it enhances learning in science and technology which are the hope of mankind to provide solutions in the social challenges and where computer and information technology is dominating.
On the national dress Zimbabwe culture is gradually formulating her own dress code .
Inconclusion I believe that external influences do not destroy a culture .Remember any social civilization develop rapidly through contact with other cultures and select the best in education system.By so doing we will even become more patriotic and honourable in promoting our country's culture and its education.
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