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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has expressed concern over the unavailability of Xhosa speaking teachers to teach the indigenous language in schools.

Xhosa speaking communities are found in areas around Kenilworth in Bubi, Mbembesi in Umguza and Fort Rixon in Insiza districts. Xhosa is one of the indigenous languages whose teaching in schools was activated by the new curriculum following its recognition in the new Constitution.

Speaking at the commissioning of St Mary’s Primary School as a model Eco School in Hwange recently, Matabeleland North Provincial Education Director Mr Jabulani Mpofu said the Ministry had started teaching the language in five schools in Bubi.

“In Bubi we started Xhosa in five schools but it has only gone up to Grade Three. We don’t have teachers for continuity in Xhosa language and we have a challenge there,” said Mr Mpofu.

He was briefing Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavhima on the state of the education sector in the province.

Mr Mpofu said the province was also facing teacher shortages to take pupils for Nambya and Tonga languages which are found in Hwange and Binga districts respectively.

South Africa-based Xhosa King, Zwelonke Sigcawu, during one of his visits to Mbembesi for the traditional Umguyo ceremony, expressed concern over non-teaching of Xhosa in schools and promised to engage the Zimbabwean Government as part of efforts to uphold the tribe’s identity.

He had promised that the Monarch would provide teachers who would teach the language.— @ncubeleon