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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Online Reporter 

GOVERNMENT is working on a Languages Bill which seeks to safeguard the country’s 16 officially recognised languages, in fulfillment of Section 6 of the Constitution.

In a post Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the proposed Act will promote, preserve and develop languages of Zimbabweans.

“The Minister Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Honourable Dr. Kirsty Coventry, presented the principles for the Languages Bill, which were adopted by Cabinet. The Bill will safeguard the country’s 16 officially recognised languages, in fulfillment of Section 6 of the Constitution.

“The Government of Zimbabwe recognises that language is a powerful vehicle of a people’s culture and identity, and the proposed Act will promote, preserve and develop the languages of Zimbabweans. Given the diversity of languages in the country, the Act will ensure their use in order to avoid marginalisation of any languages or community from loss of identity and culture,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the principles which underpin the proposed Languages Bill include promotion of multilingualism and linguistic diversity, respect of language rights and or linguistic preference as fundamental to the process of nationalism, development of augmentative and alternative communication systems for people with impediments that inhibit communication, recognition and promotion of languages as cultural wealth.

She said the Bill also seeks to see the establishment and maintenance of institutional structures, such as the National Languages Board, the National Languages Fund, and the Languages Database. Minister Mutsvangwa said the Bill also seeks to promote equitable allocation of resources for the development of officially recognised languages.

@DubeMatutu