Unlocking the potential of Zimbabwe's sign language Viewpoints on the deaf, their language, and its advancement

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Published: Nov 24, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59677/njllcs.v18i2.91
Keywords:
Deaf, sign language, marginalisation, language development, Zimbabwe

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Tawanda Matende
University of Zimbabwe
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2214-0760
Kudzai Gotosa
Gildah Mhlanga
Paul Svongoro
University of Botswana
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3186-339X

Abstract

This article explores the manner in which the underdevelopment of Zimbabwean Sign Language (ZSL) has prevented ZSL from developing into an equally developed language in Zimbabwe. The investigation is grounded on Zimbabwe's lack of ZSL in postsecondary and higher education, along with the absence of foreign sign languages like American, British, or French, leading to marginalization and hindering the deaf community's full potential. The study utilized document analysis, focus group discussions with deaf vendors in Harare, Zimbabwe's Market Square and Copa Cabana bus termini, and semi-structured interviews with executive directors of organisations for the Deaf.  The chapter highlights the negative impact of nonstandard sign language in Zimbabwe, highlighting the lack of foreign sign language teaching and standardized sign language on the Deaf community's participation in national development issues. Despite Zimbabwe's Constitution recognizing 16 official languages, including ZSL, deaf individuals still face prejudice and discrimination. Inclusive education forces signers to adopt spoken languages, while schools often deny deaf students, hindering their future contributions. The lack of international sign language training also makes it difficult for Deaf individuals to find jobs abroad and transfer money home.

Article Details

How to Cite
Matende, T., Gotosa, K., Mhlanga, G., & Svongoro, P. (2025). Unlocking the potential of Zimbabwe’s sign language: Viewpoints on the deaf, their language, and its advancement. Namibian Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Communication Studies, 18(2), 47–65. https://doi.org/10.59677/njllcs.v18i2.91
Issue
Vol. 18 No. 2 (2024): Namibian Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Communication Studies
Section
Articles
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Author Biographies

Tawanda Matende, University of Zimbabwe

Mr. Tawanda Matende is a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe and a Canon Collins Trust Scholarship alumnus. He is at the forefront of linguistic research in Southern Africa and his award-winning research is situated in the areas of Sign language, language policy and the intersections of language and sustainable development and human rights. Mr. Matende is an experienced academic with publications in prestigious journals and a record of participation in international conferences. Mr. Matende also has a wealth of experience in advocacy-focused language research that is both academically rigorous and socially vital.

Kudzai Gotosa

Dr Kudzai Gotosa is a scholar and innovator in languages, linguistics and digital humanities at the University of Zimbabwe. Her research explores the intersections of artificial intelligence, linguistic justice and indigenous knowledge systems, and advancing decolonial approaches to digital scholarship. With extensive experience in research, authorship, and editorial work, Dr. Gotosa champions inclusive, interdisciplinary inquiry that redefines how technology engages with language and culture. Her work envisions ethical and creative digital futures that sustain Africa’s linguistic diversity and cultural heritage in the evolving landscape of AI.

Gildah Mhlanga

Ms Mhlanga is a holder of a Master of Applied Linguistics degree and a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in Linguistics, both attained from the University of Zimbabwe in 2008 and 2012 respectively. She is currently studying for her PhD with the University of South Africa. She is a Linguist with special interest in Sociolinguistics specifically the area of Language and Gender. Her goal is to be recognized as a seasoned researcher in Sociolinguistics studies and be able to make an impact in the world with the expertise that she has acquired through her qualifications and experience. Ms Mhlanga currently lectures at the University of Zimbabwe under the department of Languages Literature and Culture with more than 10 years of experience, teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Paul Svongoro, University of Botswana

Dr Paul Svongoro is a researcher and senior lecturer applied language studies at the University of Botswana. He is also a Research Fellow in the Department of African Languages at the University of South Africa. Paul Svongoro also held a position as a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of the Western Cape. Paul Svongoro's research interests the areas legal interpreting, multilingualism and diversity, language rights, translanguaging, and academic literacies. He has co-edited three books, including "Discrimination and access to Justice in Africa: Language, Vulnerability and Social Inclusion in Southern and Eastern Africa” (Routledge); Courtroom Discourse: Practical Insights from Legal Linguists (Sun Press); and "Forensic Linguistics in Southern Africa: Origins, Progress and Prospects” (Cambridge University Press). His other publications also appear in various journals, including Perspectives in Education, South African Journal of African Languages, Southern African Linguistics, and Applied Language Studies. Paul is a member of the African Association of Forensic and Legal Linguistics (AAFLL), African Languages Association of Southern Africa, and the Southern African Association for Language Teachers (SAALT). He has supervised and graduated seven MA and MEd students and currently co-supervises three PhD students. He has also acted as an external examiner for four African universities.

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