The challenges of recognition among the Tjwa people in Zimbabwe

For more than a century, the primordial inhabitants of the Zimbabwe, the Tjwa people, have experienced numerous injustices. The most significant of these has been the conspicuous absence of recognition from both the colonial and post-colonial administrations. It was not until the 2013 Constitution, in Chapter 1, Section 6 (1), that the Tjwao language – erroneously categorised as Khoisan – was finally acknowledged by the current government. Tragically, this indigenous language is now on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 3000 members, and less than 20 fluent speakers in the Tsholotsho region. This paper explores the challenges faced by these people using qualitative research methods, which reinforced their marginalisation in the context of Zimbabwe, in terms of culture and language.