International Mother Languages Day 2008 under the theme "Languages Matter" highlighted a very important message, that we have to be proud of our Mother Languages and should protect them dearly. 

International Mother Language Day on 21st February 2008 was held at the University of Zambia Chapel under the theme “Languages matter”. The general public, pupils from school around Lusaka and students from the University of Zambia attended the observance.

This was the first time that UNIC, UNDP and Zambia Commission for UNESCO held a joint event with logistical support from Youth United Nations Association of Zambia (YUNA) who identified schools that were interested in attending the event. A total of 130 people attended a lively debate that ensured from the various presentations by the panelist drawn from various institutions.

Before the proceeding began all who where present where required to write a greeting in their mother language on a poster that was later mounted for the audience to see and appreciate the culture of multi-linguistic. The poster will later be exhibited at UNIC library for all the people to see.

To help people understand and appreciate the significance of the observance, a panel representing the Ministry of Education, UNESCO/UN and the University Of Zambia, Department Of Linguistics, presented on various subject matters on the theme.

Among the issues that where tackled where the role of traditional languages in development , the history of the international mother languages day, the state of local languages in Zambia, the role of local languages in curriculum development and the conflicts that arise between traditional languages.

During the open forum the most prominent issue that was voiced was one of people being proud of their mother languages. There was also a concerned that many people faced the problem of being misunderstood or shunned because of their ethnic languages.

It was also revealed that languages formed the foundation of free expression and free expression was a basis of life for the entire people world over. It was then important that if languages were made to die there would also be a loss of civilization.

The panelists’ present where Mr.  Mayeba from Curriculum Development Centre under the Ministry of education, Dr. Mwape lecturer at the University of Zambia, department of Linguistics, Mr. Abdul Hannan, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP, Mrs. Kaimbo representing Zambia Commission for UNESCO, Ms. Mulenga Kapwepwe, Commissioner, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services,  and Mr. Amos Chanda, a Journalist and moderator  of the proceedings .