People group profile · PG015645
The Zambezi Tonga of Zambia
The Zambezi Tonga of Zambia, numbering about 2,110,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Gwembe Valley people of Zambia's Southern Province forcibly displaced in 1958 by the flooding of Lake Kariba, resettled from fertile riverine farmland onto the poorer plateau above.
They are an indigenous people in the Bantu, Central-South people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak Tonga (Zambia).
Fast facts
- Country
- Zambia
- Population
- 2,110,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Central-South
- Primary language
- Tonga (Zambia) (toi)
- Primary religion
- Ethnoreligion
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Zambezi Tonga are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Zambezi Tonga
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Primary language
Tonga (Zambia) · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Tonga (Zambia)
Gospel resources in Tonga (Zambia)
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1963 Bible Society of Zambia · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Zambezi Tonga
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
Tonga, Zambezi in other countries
The same people (ROP3 111137) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zambezi Tonga | Zimbabwe | 161,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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