1. Bantu Languages:
- Shona: Widely spoken in Zimbabwe and parts of Zambia and Mozambique.
- Nyanja: Spoken in Malawi, eastern Zambia, and parts of Mozambique.
- Tonga: Spoken in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.
- Bemba: Predominant language in Zambia and spoken in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Luvale: Spoken in western Zambia and parts of Angola.
- Lozi: Spoken in western Zambia and parts of Namibia.
- Mbunda: Spoken in southern Angola and parts of western Zambia.
2. Khoisan Languages:
- Khoekhoe: Spoken by the Nama people in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.
- San Languages: Various Khoisan languages spoken by different San communities, such as Khwe, Ju/'hoansi, and ǃXóõ.
3. Niger-Congo Languages (non-Bantu):
- Sotho: Spoken in Lesotho and parts of South Africa.
- Tswana: Spoken in Botswana and parts of South Africa.
- Venda: Spoken in South Africa and parts of Zimbabwe.
4. English and Portuguese:
- English: Widely used as the official language in Zambia and Zimbabwe due to their colonial past under British administration.
- Portuguese: Used as the official language in Mozambique due to its colonial history under Portuguese rule.
5. Swahili:
- Spoken as a lingua franca in some border areas of the Zambezi River basin in eastern Africa, particularly in Tanzania and Malawi.
It's important to note that this list is not exhaustive, and there are numerous other minority languages spoken by smaller communities throughout the Zambezi River basin. The linguistic diversity of the region is a testament to its rich cultural heritage and historical interactions between various ethnic groups.
