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Angela Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is working on translating the Highway Code into the country’s 16 official languages to promote traffic safety and inclusiveness among citizens.
In 2017, the country officially adopted the Sadc signs and signals, that replaced the old Highway Code of 1970 and the document has been available locally in English. Government is currently working towards making it accessible in all languages for the benefit of those who cannot read and understand English.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona revealed this in Parliament on Wednesday last week, saying the Midlands State University (MSU) is one of the institutions that have been tasked with translating the Highway Code into all local languages. The translation process is already underway.
“After the Second Republic, we discovered that a lot of things changed. We have high class schools and universities, which we are working with hand-in-hand,” said Minister Mhona.
“We have universities like Midlands State University which we gave the Highway Code so that they can translate it into all other official languages in Zimbabwe other than English and they are currently doing so.”
The Minister said people undertaking Highway Code lessons will be able to write examinations in the languages of their choice.
“In the First Republic, some of the promises were not being fulfilled, but if you take note of the Second Republic, promises are being fulfilled.
We do not leave issues unattended and that is why we have decided to give Midlands State University the opportunity to translate the Highway Code,” he said.
“After translating the Highway Code in all the languages, when attempting their tests, they will use their language of choice. If you learn in English, you will also write the test in English, nothing will change.” Those who can’t read and write will stick to the pictorial form for road signs.
The Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira said MSU had finished translating the country’s constitution and Covid-19 documents, and has been tasked with doing the same with the Highway Code.
“They are done with the Constitution and the Covid-19 documents and they are currently seized with the Highway Code project. On the issue of timelines, I would like to say this year, the Highway Code will be written in all the 16 official languages,” he said.
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