Alternate Names: Chitonga, Plateau Tonga, Zambezi
Dialects: Chitonga, Leya, Mala, Shanjo (Sanjo), Toka (Southern Tonga), Twa of Kafwe (Kafue Twa), We (Valley Tonga).
Status Notes: De facto provincial language in Southern and Western provinces.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 1,330,000 in Zambia (2010 census), increasing. 55,600 Toka-Leya, 1,270,000 Tonga (2010 census). Population total all countries: 1,467,000.
Language Use: Recognized for educational and administrative purposes. Home, community, market, administration. All ages. Positive attitudes. Used as L2 by Lenje [leh].
Language Development: Taught in primary and secondary schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Bible: 1963–1996.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Zambia
Other Comments: Different from Tonga , of Malawi, Tonga , of Mozambique, or Tsonga (Tonga) , of Mozambique.