Zimbabwe is recognized for its linguistic diversity, holding the Guinness World Record for the most official languages in a single country, with 16 officially recognized languages. These include: Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, Sign Language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa.
The recognition of these languages was formalized in Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution. This marked a significant shift from earlier policies that primarily emphasized English as the official language during colonial rule. The constitutional changes aimed to promote cultural diversity and ensure equal development and use of all official languages.
Shona is spoken by approximately 70–85% of the population, making it the dominant language. Ndebele follows with about 20%, while English serves as the lingua franca for government, business, and education
