The Deputy Executive Secretary responsible for Finance and Administration at the SADC Secretariat, Ms. Emilie Mushobekwa has commended the important role Instituto Camões, an organisation from Portugal, plays in the promotion of the Portuguese language in SADC.
During the meeting held in Gaborone, Republic of Botswana with the Head of Education Department at the Portuguese Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, Carlos Gomes Da Silva on the 28th April 2017, Ms Mushobekwa said Instituto Camões has helped some SADC staff members to learn Portuguese language, being one of the official languages of SADC. The Deputy Executive Secretary reiterated the desire of SADC management to further strengthen the collaboration with Instituto Camões in the coming years.
The meeting between the two was aimed at taking stock of the activities carried out within the framework of the Protocol of Cooperation signed in March 2008 between Instituto Camões and the SADC Secretariat. The Protocol of Co-operation between Instituto Camões and the SADC Secretariat is aimed at promoting Portuguese language in the SADC region as a way of further deepening regional integration within SADC.
Through the agreement, Instituto Camões has facilitated a number of activities including offering free Portuguese lessons to SADC staff; conducting workshops and seminars to further build the skills of Portuguese language translators.
On his part, Carlos Gomes Da Silva reaffirmed his Government's commitment to the promotion of Portuguese language in the SADC region by among other things; supporting the learning of the language.
