Other Languages of Zimbabwe
The modern Zimbabwean constitution recognizes 16 official
languages including Shona and Ndebele. Shona is the widely spoken language of Zimbabwe.
It is followed by Ndebele and the following minority languages:
Chewa – Originally
known as Nyanja, it is a popular minority language in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique.
It’s a major language in Malawi.
Tonga – A minority
language widely spoken in North-Western Zimbabwe - Zambezi region, Kariba, Hwange, Binga and Gokwe etc.Tongas
are also found in Zambia over the Zambezi river borderline.
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| Kariba Lake on the Zambezi River |
Venda – A popular minority
language spoken in the Beitbridge region of Zimbabwe.It is also widely spoken in South Africa, Limpopo region.
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| Lion and Elephant Motel - Beitbridge - Copyright |
Kalanga – One of
the most popular minority languages spoken in Western Zimbabwe region (Plumtree,
Tsholotsho, Bulilimamangwe, Matobo, Gwanda etc.) and Botswana. It has some resemblance with Venda.
Nambya – A minority
language spoken in Zimbabwe in the Hwange region. Closely related to Kalanga.
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| Hwange National Park - Copyrights |
Khoisan – A minority
language spoken by the San people who live in the South Western region of
Zimbabwe towards the Botswana border.
Shangani – A minority
language spoken in the South Eastern region of Zimbabwe towards the border with
Mozambique and South Africa, in places like Chiredzi, although Shona is
dominant in these parts.
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| Chiredzi - Copyrights |
Tswana – Spoken in
settlements towards the Botswana border in places like Mangwe District, Western
Zimbabwe.Mphoengs is a Tswana name, a location in Mangwe.
Xhosa – Referred to
as AmaFengu, there are Xhosa
settlements just outside the city of Bulawayo in Mbembeswana.
Sotho – There are
speakers of Sotho in the Gwanda region of Zimbabwe and Southern parts.
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