BY SAMUEL NJINGA AND MEMORY MPAPA IN MASVINGO
Members of the Xitsonga-speaking community in Chiredzi and Mwenezi districts are expressing their frustration over the government’s failure to implement the teaching of their language in local schools, despite the presence of qualified teachers. This has sparked a wave of discontent, as community leaders and residents call for urgent action to make Xitsonga a compulsory subject in the educational system within the districts.
The Xitsonga language, which is spoken by a significant portion of the population in these areas, has been absent from the curriculum, much to the dissatisfaction of the local community. Many residents, including parents and educators, are puzzled as to why their language is being excluded, especially when there are qualified Xitsonga teachers available to teach it.
“I don’t understand why our children are not learning our language in school. We have qualified teachers who can teach Xitsonga, but they are being sent to teach in areas where the language is not spoken,” said Elizabeth Chauke, a parent from Chief Gezani in Chiredzi. “This is a denial of our identity and culture, and we won’t stand for it any longer. We refuse to be undermined.”
The anger within the Xitsonga-speaking community is palpable, as people question why the language is overlooked in favour of other languages in the education system. Many feel that this marginalisation of Xitsonga is an affront to their cultural heritage, and they are demanding that steps be taken to ensure the language is taught in schools.
According to local sources, the situation has worsened with the deployment of Xitsonga-speaking teachers to districts where the language is not spoken. These teachers, often frustrated by the lack of students who speak Xitsonga, have expressed dissatisfaction with their assignments. Meanwhile, most schools in Chiredzi and Mwenezi, where Xitsonga is widely spoken, remain without this important subject in their curricula.
“I have been trained to teach Xitsonga, but I have been posted to a school where the language is not even spoken,” said one teacher, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “It feels like the government is ignoring our needs and not taking our language seriously.”
Chief Sengwe, Chilonga and Chitanga who hold significant influence in the Xitsonga-speaking community, have joined the growing chorus of voices calling for change. They have called for better collaboration between the government, education authorities, and the community to ensure the preservation of their language.
“We cannot continue to ignore our language and culture,” said Chief Sengwe, a traditional leader in Chiredzi. “The education system must reflect the diversity of our people. We want to engage with the responsible authorities to ensure that our language is given the attention it deserves.”
The chiefs have urged local authorities to hold consultations with the Xitsonga community to address these concerns and find a solution that is both practical and respectful of the community’s linguistic rights.
The demand for a compulsory Xitsonga curriculum has gained traction in recent months, with local leaders and educators advocating for the subject to be introduced into the national curriculum, at least in districts where it is widely spoken.
Veteran Xitsonga Lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University, Dr Steyn Khensani Madlome sees no sense in limiting the teaching and expansion of this language.
“It`s time for the authorities to take us seriously and consider the compulsory teaching of Xitsonga in Chiredzi and Mwenezi. If English is being taught as a compulsory language in a country where there are no whites, why should Xitsonga be limited?” interrogated Dr Madlome.
“We have been patient for too long,” said Herbert Phikela, a community activist. “We are not asking for anything unreasonable. Our language should be taught to our children as a matter of cultural preservation, and it should be made compulsory in schools where it is spoken. Just like when we became independent in the early 1980s, teachers were recruited regardless of qualifications because the target was to make sure that everyone is equipped with education. Similar approach must be used in fast-tracking the teaching of Xitsonga.”
The community is now calling on the Ministry of Education to ensure that Xitsonga becomes a mandatory subject in schools in Chiredzi and Mwenezi, with appropriate resources allocated to support teachers and students.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has acknowledged the concerns raised by the Xitsonga community, but has not yet committed to any specific changes. In a statement, Director of Communications and Advocacy in the ministry, Taungana Ndoro mentioned that the inclusion of minority languages in the curriculum was an ongoing process and that resources were being allocated to expand language offerings in schools across the country. He also called upon teachers with qualifications for teaching this language to visit the responsible offices for recruitment.
However, this response has not been enough to appease the Xitsonga-speaking residents of Chiredzi and Mwenezi. For many, the issue is one of cultural identity, and they believe it is time for the government to prioritise the inclusion of all local languages in the educational system.
As the debate continues, local leaders are preparing to mobilise community members for further advocacy. The Xitsonga-speaking people of Chiredzi and Mwenezi are united in their call for action, and they hope that the government’s failure to act will no longer be tolerated.
The community’s message is clear: their language matters, and they will not stop fighting until it is given the recognition it deserves in the classroom.