The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Saturday, January 28, 1967 — Could you do better in SiNdebele? The language of Africa may prove rather frightening at first sight to immigrants, especially with the vast cross section of dialects and what’s-not. Yet the African seems to have mastered (to a certain degree anyway) the English Language. Take for example, this letter received by the Bulawayo District Road Council from an African writing from Inyazura about a job for which he first applied for in last August.

Dear Sir — Still bursting with a rather intensified ambition to get to work some day to come, I have cheerfully decided to have you cheerfully reminded about my already intended request for a job which was first revealed in August. So as you once told me to wait until there is a vacancy for me I hope to replenish it if there is any of you may assign me to any other suitable job for the present since I am just loitering here at home doing nothing at all. If chances to reply me are short please tell all of what may become of my application to Driver ****** for the Service Truck in 1964 and from the selection that followed that year we found ourselves without vacances.

“I hope that if time permits you may answer me soon as possible so that I may find something to do. I also hope that my application will reach your consideration acceptance as much as possible”. Yours faithfully (Signed) Before any European laughs, just let him or her sit down and try to write this in SiNdebele or Shona.