Malawi’s education authorities have instructed education authorities to immediately introduce Swahili into the country’s school curriculum for easier communication with Swahili-speaking countries.
The instruction was announced by Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera during a recent televised news briefing with visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan about ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
Education experts in Malawi have said learning Swahili, which is one of the most spoken languages in many parts of Africa, would help Malawi boost trade partnerships with Swahili-speaking countries.
Hassan was on a three-day visit to Malawi, where she was invited as a guest of honour during Malawi's 59th independence anniversary celebrations in Lilongwe.
She told reporters that Tanzania would provide Malawi with everything needed for the introduction of the Swahili language.
Tanzania, which is a predominantly Swahili-speaking nation, is among neighbouring countries where most Malawian traders go to buy their goods, including clothes and motor vehicle spare parts.
Many from both countries complain about the high cost of Swahili language interpreters to facilitate this trade.
