Resituating indigenous languages and identities as outlined in the new constitution of Zimbabwe: a historical analysis

Abstract

Pre-colonial and post-colonial Zimbabwe maintained the exogenous English language as the official language while at the same time recognising and including Shona and Ndebele as the main indigenous languages at the exclusion of many other languages.  This exclusion of other indigenous languages and identities has been a source of controversy due to varied historical interpretations and analysis. The dominance of Shona and Ndebele in addition to the exogenous English language intensely divided the nation along linguistic lines. Linguistic hegemony, while largely attributable to the dominance of a foreign language such as English, equally applies to the pronounced dominance of Shona and Ndebele as indigenous languages and identities in Zimbabwe. The recognition and inclusion of other indigenous languages and identities in addition to Shona and Ndebele are counter-hegemonic. Based on the recently enacted Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act 2013, this article makes an historical analysis of and resituates indigenous languages and identities in Zimbabwe. It outlines the recognition and inclusion of indigenous languages in the founding provisions of the Constitution; culture; and, the preservation of traditional knowledge as espoused in the national objectives of the same Constitution. Further, language and culture are analysed as fundamental human rights and freedoms. The role of independent commissions as supporters of democracy is also interrogated in the context of resituating languages and identities in the new Constitution. The article also discusses how libraries are a link between generations within languages and identities because they store, index and allow for the retrieval of information that is referenced accordingly. Finally, the article highlights the role of traditional leaders and how their recognition and inclusion in the Constitution resituates indigenous languages and identities in Zimbabwe.