A senior citizen in Solwezi District of North-western Province says the use of mother language plays a crucial role in preserving the country’s identity and culture.

Eunice Sebele, a freedom fighter, notes that the mother language molds people in a particular community or country.

She told ZANIS in an interview today that Zambia is one of the countries which has a rich culture and whose mother languages play a vital role in preserving its identity.

“We have 73 languages which we should be proud of by freely using them without being intimidated by anyone,” Mama Sebele said.

She has stressed the need for parents and guardians to take pride in teaching children their mother language as it will preserve the family’s history and know about their lineage.

“As elderly people, we feel proud when we are able to interact with the younger generation in our mother language,” she said.

Mama Sebele has called on all Zambians to play an active role in promoting the use of mother language by speaking it proudly and taking interest to learn other languages.

Zambia Education Publishing House Records Clerk, Raymond Katilungu, has expressed concern over the low interest of people to read literature published in local languages.

He observed that if negative attitudes continue, there will be cultural erosion in the country.

 Ms Sikote said using a mother tongue also enables young people to interact with the elderly people. 

This year’s International Mother Language Day is being held under the theme, “Multilingual Education a necessity to Transform Education”.