Online Reporter
IN many households today, parents take great pride in hearing their children speak English fluently. For many families, English is seen as the language of education, employment, international travel and broader opportunities.
Indeed, in a globalised world, proficiency in English can be a valuable asset. However, in the pursuit of English excellence, a worrying trend has quietly emerged: some children are growing up unable to speak their own local languages such as Shona or Ndebele. While English is undeniably important, the neglect of indigenous languages can carry serious cultural, social and even emotional consequences.
Language is far more than a tool for communication. It is the heartbeat of a people’s identity, history, traditions and worldview. Through language, generations pass on wisdom, values, customs and stories that shape a child’s sense of self.
When children do not learn their mother tongue, they risk losing an essential connection to who they are and where they come from. They may know the world through English, yet remain strangers to the richness of their own heritage.
For example, Shona and Ndebele languages are filled with proverbs, idioms, praise poetry, traditional songs, and folktales that teach discipline, respect, resilience, humility and unity. A proverb such as amasongo akhala kuhle emabili/chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda teaches the importance of cooperation, while many traditional stories carry moral lessons about honesty, courage and wisdom. These expressions often lose their depth and beauty when translated into English. A child who cannot understand them in their original language misses more than words, they miss the spirit behind them.
Another major consequence is the weakening of family bonds. In many Zimbabwean homes, grandparents and older relatives are most comfortable expressing themselves in Shona or Ndebele. These elders are living libraries of family history, traditions and life lessons. When children cannot speak the family language, communication becomes difficult and relationships may remain shallow. A grandparent may long to tell stories, share advice or simply joke with a grandchild, yet the language barrier stands in the way. Over time, this can create a painful gap between generations.
Children, who do not know their local language may also struggle to feel fully accepted in community spaces. At family gatherings, weddings, funerals, church events or village visits, local languages often dominate conversations.
A child, who can only speak English may feel excluded, embarrassed or disconnected. Instead of participating confidently, they may withdraw or feel like outsiders among their own people. This can affect self-esteem and their sense of belonging.
The decline of indigenous language use also threatens the survival of valuable local knowledge. Many farming methods, herbal remedies, customs, crafts and spiritual beliefs are preserved through oral tradition in native languages. If younger generations no longer understand these languages, such knowledge may disappear. Once lost, it is difficult, sometimes impossible to recover.
Ironically, raising children to speak only English may not even provide the educational advantage many parents expect. Studies around the world consistently show that bilingual or multilingual children often perform better in areas such as memory, concentration, creativity and problem-solving. Learning more than one language strengthens the brain. Children who speak both English and Shona or Ndebele can move confidently between different cultural and professional environments. Rather than limiting them, bilingualism expands their opportunities.
It is also important to understand that teaching children local languages does not compete with English, it complements it. A child can excel in English while also speaking Shona or Ndebele fluently. Many successful professionals, academics, leaders and entrepreneurs around the world are multilingual. Speaking one’s mother tongue should never be seen as backward or a barrier to progress. Instead, it is a mark of pride, intelligence and rootedness.
Parents therefore have a critical role to play. The home is the first classroom and language habits begin there. Speaking Shona or Ndebele regularly at home, telling traditional stories, encouraging conversations with elders, listening to local music and reading books in indigenous languages can help children develop fluency naturally.
Schools and communities can also support this by valuing and promoting local languages rather than treating them as secondary.
A child who speaks both English and their local language gains the best of both worlds: access to global opportunities and a deep connection to their roots. They grow up knowing who they are, where they come from and how to navigate the wider world with confidence.
Dr Manners Msongelwa is an author, educator and youth coach. He can be contacted on +263 771 019 392
