Elizabeth Mashiri
GWERU-The Midlands State University (MSU) has translated the Highway Code and provisional driver’s licence examination into Shona and Ndebele languages.
MSU National Language Institute (NLI) executive director Professor Wiseman Magwa confirmed the development during the launch of African languages week.
MSU recently translated the new Constitution into all 16 indigenous languages. The institution is also translating science textbooks into indigenous languages.
The 2013 constitution has 16 official languages, namely Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Chewa, Venda, and Xhosa.
“As the NLI, we have the new Constitution, which we have translated into all 16 languages. We translated the Highway Code and the provisional driver’s licence examination into Shona and Ndebele.
“So, if you go to any Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) depot, you can get your licence in Shona or Ndebele. It is now possible to use those local languages, and people are enjoying it,” he said.
The Highway Code contains road safety rules which apply to our country.
The NLI was officially commissioned at MSU’s main campus in May 2019. It is expected to preserve and promote indigenous languages and culture.
Magwa added that the NLI is working on translating more Government programmes, policies, and the national budget from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development into indigenous languages.
“This way, people will have a buy-in if they understand. We will assist the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to translate policies into local languages. We have done a lot as the NLI and will do more to promote local languages,” he said.
The government recently approved a budget allocation of US$174 000 for the Strategic Literature Development project. Science textbooks and literature are being written and published in indigenous languages.