GZU to teach Tshivenda and Xitsonga

The Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), formerly the Masvingo State University, has finally introduced the teaching of Tshivenda and Xitsonga, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the University of Venda, Mirror has established.

The vice-chancellor of GZU, Prof Obert Maravanyika, told Mirror that the two languages would be taught during the university’s next semester, which starts in April.

"We will be introducing Tshivenda and Xitsonga on April 7, when our new semester starts and we give thanks to the University of Venda, which is assisting us in this implementation stage of the programme, by offering us two lecturers," he said.

The memorandum of understanding was signed in June last year. According to Dr Makgale Makgopa of Univen, they want Tshivenda to gain the recognition "it deserves, considering that it is treated as a minority language in Zimbabwe." The Venda language, which is also largely spoken in the border town of Beit Bridge in Zimbabwe, has been sidelined for years in the Zimbabwean education curriculum as it was only taught up to grade three level. Languages such as Shona and Ndebele are taught up to university level.

Prof Maravanyika said the degree programmes will run for three years, with students taking up either of the two languages, together with two other courses. The students will then subsequently major in their language of choice in the final year of studies. "The degree structure is that the students take a combination of three subjects, among them either Venda or Tsonga, in the first year."

He added that the university intends to develop its own Tshivenda and Xitsonga teaching staff, with the help of Univen, which offered to train the lecturers. "South Africa had done us a whole lot of good through this friendly gesture of providing us with lecturers for the programme, but we need to develop our own personnel so that, in the end, we eventually can manage to stand on our own feet. This partnership with Univen is the beginning of a long relationship and therefore we will give the Venda and Tsonga languages the desired respect it deserves," he said.

News - Date: 21 March 2008

Mashudu Netsianda

Mashudu Netsianda is our correspondent in Beit Bridge, Zimbabwe. He joined us in 2006, writing both local and international stories. He had worked for several Zimbabwean publications, as well as the Times of Swaziland. Mashudu received his training at the School of Mass Communication in Harare.

Email: