OPINION: ZamStats’ Language Statistics Are A Dangerous Seed of Division
By Michael Zephaniah Phiri – Political Activist
It is with a heavy heart and deep concern that I write to condemn the new trajectory the Zambia Statistics Agency (ZamStats) has taken in its recent report on languages spoken in Zambia. This is not just about numbers — it is about the dangerous seeds of tribal division that can be planted when statistics are not handled responsibly.
Recently, ZamStats released figures showing that Tonga has overtaken Nyanja to become the second-most widely spoken language in Zambia after Bemba. On paper, these may appear to be mere demographic facts. But in reality, they come with undertones that threaten our fragile unity as a nation.
According to the 2022 Census data:
Bemba remains the most widely spoken language, used by 34% of Zambians nationwide — dominant in both rural (23.8%) and urban (46.7%) areas.
Tonga is now reported as the second-most spoken language at 12.8%, more prevalent in rural areas (18.2%) than urban centres.
Nyanja, despite its prominence in our towns and cities, is now listed third with 11.4% usage, yet it remains dominant in urban areas at 21.8%.
English, our official national language, is used by only 1.9% of the population at home.
Now, let’s compare that with the 2010 Census figures, which every Zambian can verify:
Bemba was at about 33.5%, almost unchanged.
Nyanja stood at 14.7% nationally, making it the clear second-most spoken language.
Tonga was recorded at 11%, placing it third overall.
What has changed so drastically in just a decade for Tonga to suddenly overtake Nyanja — especially when migration patterns show Nyanja-speaking communities continue to grow in urban areas? How did Tonga become the second-most spoken language? Where is the raw data? What was the methodology? These are legitimate questions every concerned citizen must ask.
From the look of things, this does not add up with our known social and urban dynamics. To the ordinary Zambian, this feels like there is a hidden agenda — to promote tribal narratives that only divide us further.
It is not lost on us that not long ago, the Head of State himself questioned, “Why do they hate me just because I am HH(Tonga)?” Such careless statements are dangerous when echoed from the highest office in the land. They plant the notion that tribe must be the lens through which we view leadership and national belonging.
This is exactly what our founding father, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, foresaw. Let us not forget that Dr. Kaunda once amended the Constitution itself to curb tribal politics — all in defence of our cherished national motto, “One Zambia, One Nation.” He knew that the only thing that could break Zambia was tribalism.
What happened to that spirit today? Are we so blind as a nation that we cannot see how these so-called “statistics” are slowly being used to push a narrative of “us versus them”? This is not the Zambia we inherited from KK and our founding mothers and fathers.
We must ask the tough questions. We must demand transparency from ZamStats: What is the motive behind pushing this narrative at this time? What is the impact on national unity? What measures are in place to ensure that no one exploits this data for political mileage?
We are Zambians before we are Bemba, Tonga, Nyanja, Lozi, or any other tribe. Let us not be deceived by anyone — politician or statistician — who tries to pit one group against another for power or social advantage.
I call on every well-meaning Zambian to stand up and say: *ENOUGH!* Let us protect our unity. Let us remember the vision of our forefathers. Let us hold institutions like ZamStats accountable — they exist to build trust, not to erode it.
*Our greatest national language is not Bemba, myTonga, or Nyanja — it is One Zambia, One Nation. May we never forget that.*
There’s a Tribal agenda being pushed by those obsessed with Tribe. For them it’s about Tribe..they breath Tribe and live Tribe…they support Tribe and Vote Tribe.
The Bemba language hasn’t been pushed on Zambians. It’s a seamless result of migration from Northern Zambia to urban areas.
And there are many Bemba speaking Tribes in Zambia. Infact of the 73 Tribes in Zambia many speak a form of Bemba.
From Ushi, Bisa, Lala, ng’umbo, Chishinga, Lamba etc covering a huge geographical spread such as Central, Northern, Luapula,
Muchinga, Copperbelt Provinces.
For the Nyanja language, it’s a combination
of languages from the east as there is no
Nyanja Tribe in Zambia..and is also a
seamless result of migration from the east to Lusaka Province.
But there is this one Tribe which is so much obsessed with Tribe, to an extent of even cooking up statistics.. they even want to use fake statistics so as to have more parliamentary seats and and have the Legislature in their hands to ensure a Tribal Hegemony. Thank God the Concourt has put a stop to this scheme.
A language that is largely spoken in just one province, and if you hear some one speaking it in urban areas, then most likely he hails from that province, but some one wants to tell us that it is the most used language compared to Nyanja.
Let the river run it’s course, and if at some time this language becomes popular, people will start using it.. but don’t force it on Zambia. This is a form of Tribalism.
Zambiano Old Saint, please note that tribe and language aren’t necessarily the same thing. Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda speak the same language, Kinyarwanda. You’re confusing language chauvinism and tribalism. And that’s because you have not had access to serious academic literature on this problem. It’s not enough to just bring common sense and strong feelings to this debate.
Hogwash concern. Does it matter what zamstats report. What advantage is in bemba even as it is considered majority spoken language. I don’t give it a damn whether my language is spoken or not. Only primitive people with the mentality of entitlement take such statistics so personally. Shame on you.
Why does this political activist only wake up with a heavy heart and deep concern when the 2022 Zamstats reports that Tonga is now the second most spoken language nationally? Why didnt this political activist have a heavy heart and deep concern when the 2010 census reported that Nyanja was the second most spoken language nationally?? These are double standards of a primitive political activist!!!
The ministerial Statement from Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane gave the percentage growth from 2010 to 2022
North Western – 75%
Lusaka Province – 41%
Copperbelt – 40%
Central – 73%
Western, Luapula – above 50%
Eastern – 45%
Northern – 46%
Muchinga – 43%
Southern – Unknown/Top Secret.
Is asking the government to release the figures for southern Province hatred or bitterness?
Now Zamstats is saying Tonga has surpassed Nyanja as the most widely spoken language?
Someone is definitely cooking up statistics at Zamstats!
So what do u want? U want nyanja to be second and become happy? Mbo! Guys
Why is it difficult to go to Zamstats to get the figures for Southern province when there is access to public information?? Zamstats is the only official source of statistics in Zambia. Does it mean the only time Zamstats is not cooking up statistics is when they report that Tonga has not surpassed Nyanja as the most widely spoken language?? One needs serious evidence before claiming someone is definitely cooking up statistics at Zamstats.
Honestly speaking, whether Tonga or any other language has overtaken Nyanja as the second widely spoken language should not be an issue. We don’t compete to speak any language, people on their own speak the language they like. Who knows maybe Bemba also can be overtaken by some other tribe in future probably the same Nyanja and who can cry or complain over that?
Tongas are the most pilygamists in Zambia. That means highest rate of population increase. They shud not be surprised next time when Bemba becomes second to Tonga as most spoken language
It’s wrong to see language groups in Zambia as competing against each other. It’s plainly silly actually. You, Hicamba, are no different from Michael Zephaniah Phiri.
To say that the Bisa, Lamba, Lala, Ng’umbo, Tabwa, Chishinga speak a form of Bemba is to miss the point. The truth is that these are a group of related languages with one common origin somewhere in the African past but somehow started to differ with distance and passage of time. It’s pretty much like Portuguese and Spanish. They’re both descended from the Latin language and it would be wrong to say Portuguese is a form of Spanish. I have replied to you to challenge your arrogant and misleading postings that lack erudition.
Let Zamstat just make Tonga number one in Zambia, even SADC, to avoid publishing another report next year to confirm that it is the most widely spoken language in Africa.
REJECT TRIBALISM, CORRUPTION AND OPPRESSION.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
This Michael Zephaniah Phiri is just a product of the post-independence UNIP government policy on local language broadcasting on state radio and early-education instruction. Instead of uniting the country, the policy is to blame for turning some local languages into by-words for tribalism, rural backwardness and everything negative. We’re seeing it right here with some postings. Actually all languages in what Sishuwa Sishuwa calls the Zambezi region are seen as representations of tribalism, backwardness and therefore a threat to Zambia’s progress.
Tribalism existed under PF, and it is thriving under UPND. My vote for Hakainde was in part to arrest this cancer, but little did I know I was voting for its accelerant. It is worse now because anyone that points it out is arrested, and jailed. So people not belonging to the favoured tribe are just silent. Look at all the heads of parastatals, critical government institutions, the police, judges etc. etc. and you will see a clear pattern. Take a look at how the law segregated based on surnames. There is a blanket immunity for some to commit crimes. Even on this forum, take a look at those that insult others without any fear of repercussions. I must admit, you are not one of them, and you do denounce them, sometimes. Non birthright citizens are scared to talk. They are not stupid, but they know that a time will come when the shoe will be on the other foot. What do you think they will do then? The country was hoping to reset this rot in 2021, but it has gotten worse. The people promoting Tribalism are actually politicians, to the extent of even paying someone to insult Tonga people. What charges can be slapped on those individuals once this government leaves office? Remember that the next president will not abolish cyber laws. This regime, and their followers, will have a lot to answer for. The evidence is well catalogued on videos and social media. It will not be persecution, but applying the law retrospectively. And those jailed will cry Tribalism.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
You never voted for HH thief, what a big LIAR full of hatred. It was going to be good if they mentioned your language, what an imbecile! Not a Zambian for sure
HaaMusonda, always playing the victim. Give it a rest. Look at Gunner’s maturity in his submission, and mine in my response. No insults, no name calling, but a genuine discussion between educated folk. Your need to mislead by using the name you are using means you are not comfortable in your own skin. You aim to deceive, but your tone betrays you. If you must know, I am a Bemba married to a gorgeous Ila woman. I own several business and I have Tonga people heading some of them. One of them is headed by a Lozi. I care not if you do not believe this. Take time to read my submission. You are not representative of all Tonga people, thank God for that. You are just ignorant, and probably overestimate your intellectual capabilities. I pray that the next president next year will put an end to tribalism and blanket immunity that you are enjoying right now at the expense of all non birthright citizens.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
Michael zaphania Phiri you seem to be so agitated by these statistics so much that you hd to come out blasting on all cylinders over a very petty issue. Before I go far, I demand to see evidence of your voice on similar public arena indulicating that you hv stood against Tribalism thru and thru. Under yr tribemate as president, Zambians lost jobs, got transfered simply on grounds that they were from the Zambezi region. With many more numerous things of tribal hate that occurred. What voice did you raise. Now that somth very small like these statistics, you want to appear a champion of National Unity trying to beat the real champion Hakainde? Come on be serious. Only recently yr tribemate at PF secretariate openly showed tribalism by refusing to listen to a Tonga song. Where was yr voice. Are these wrongs invisible to you. Just admit that behind yr post above, there is so much hate, tribalism and bitterness motivating u to come out and criticriticise on a non issue but conviniently looking elsewhere when it cones to wrongs aparently favouring your skewed tribal balance in Zambia.
You never voted for HH thief, what a big LIAR full of hatred. It was going to be good if they mentioned your language, what an imbecile! Not a Zambian for sure