The Center for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) and Lost History Foundation (LHF) have petitioned Parliament to allow the use of indigenous languages alongside English in parliamentary debates.
The organizations are urging Members of Parliament to begin communicating in indigenous languages to better serve the people they represent in the House.
Speaking to MIJ Online, Sylvester Namiwa CDEDI’s Executive Director, said that they would like Parliament to incorporate inclusive languages to ensure voter participation and enrich debate in the House.
He further stated that Members of Parliament should speak in a language they are comfortable with, as they are primarily speaking for and to the people they represent.
Meanwhile, Zomba City North Member of Parliament Bester Awali, who received the petition, said it has come at the right time as Parliament seeks to engage more closely with the people by embracing vernacular languages to enhance understanding.