French Honorary Consul to Malawi Luc Deschamps, who is also Alliance Francaise de Blantyre Director, said yesterday that French is a language people in the country must strive to learn.
Deschamps said the French language is spoken by many countries, such that it has, over the years, created opportunities, including employment.
He said this at Alliance Francaise de Blantyre during the launch of French courses for Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers on Monday.
The courses are part of a regional cooperation programme from France.
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The programme is being implemented in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi and being facilitated by the French Institute of South Africa.
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This is being done as part of the ‘French As A Tool to strengthen Diplomatic Security and Military Cooperation in Southern Africa’ initiative.
“We need to value languages and French is one language that is used by many countries,” Deschamps said.
He underscored the importance of French language for Malawian soldiers when they are deployed to conflict zones in French-speaking countries as part of African Union or United Nations peace keeping mission.
This has been the case in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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The courses, which started last year, will be running from A1 level all the way to B2 for a period of two years.
Brigadier General Patrick Simwaka, who was the guest of honour, dared the cohort to work extra hard in learning French.
“For us, MDF soldiers, learning French will enable us to be fluent in it,” he said.
One of the participants, Lieutenant Claire Mitongwe from Malindi, said she was excited to be part of the cohort.
“To be selected among the many out there means more for me. I have always longed to speak French,” Mitongwe said.
Alliance Francaise de Blantyre is also offering French courses in Lilongwe to 10 diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as 10 members from the Malawi Police Service.
