Translation is the core business of the Bible Society of Zambia. Its goals are to translate the Bible, selections, portions and any other Christian material in different formats into all the Zambian languages. Since the inception of the society in 1966, 14 Bibles inclusive of Testaments have been translated into local languages.

Mambwe-Lungu: the project has been going on smoothly despite electric power load shedding which has in the past two years slowed down the work. The team is working on the song of songs and the book of Ecclesiastes has already been drafted. The New Testament was launched in the year 2007 and was well received.

Luvale Bible Revision Project: The Luvale project in the North Western province was initially started in 1975 but discontinued. It was revived in 1995 and the team was in December discussing and  reviewing Galatians. The team is in dire need of a computer, printer and printing paper. Funds are also being requested for the team to employ another translator.

Nkoya New Testament: Nkoya language is spoken by about 200, 000 people in the Western province. The project was initially started in 1945 and discontinued in 1973. Other attempts failed until in 1994 when it was restarted in Kaoma in the Western province under the consultancy of Dr. E. Wendland and Mr. Chinoya Kasiwa as Manuscript examiner and was completed in 2007 after which it was sent for printing. The NT is still with the printers while completion of the Whole Bible awaits funding from well wishers.

Lozi Bible with DC: Revision of the Lozi Bible was started in February 2006 and completed in the year 2008. siLozi language is spoken by more than 2 million .The translation team is currently doing the first proofs.

Tonga Study Bible: The Tonga study Bible which was initially being funded by the Lutheran Church but its funding plan ended in December last year and the project is in limbo due to lack of funds. The team has completed drafting the New Testament and resources are being sort so that the first study Bible in Zambia is completed.

Bemba Bible revision: The Bemba translation team is working in the Old Testament books. In the year 2008, the team translated a Children’s Bible which awaits launching. Also a comic called David 1 was completed and it was sent for typesetting in Nairobi. Bemba language is spoken by about 3 million people on Copperbelt, Northern and Luapula provinces.

Mambwe-Lungu: the project has been going on smoothly despite electric power load shedding which has in the past two years slowed down the work. The team is working on the song of songs and the book of Ecclesiastes has already been drafted. The New Testament was launched in the year 2007 and was well received.

Luvale Bible Revision Prroject: The Luvale project in the North Western province was initially started in 1975 but discontinued. It was revived in 1995 and the team was in December discussing and  reviewing Galatians. The team is in dire need of a computer, printer and printing paper. Funds are also being requested for the team to employ another translator.

Mbunda Bible Launch: The Mbunda Bible whose translation work in Zambia after many failed attempts in Angola was started in 1923 at Lukute in Western Province but was also abandoned due to various reasons. In 1968, the project was restarted under the consultancy of Dr. Hope and later Dr. E.R. wendland but actual work started in 1987 and completed in 2003.

The Bible was launched in late last year in Kaoma and a mini-launch was later held in Lusaka.

Different Christians attended the launch of the Mbunda Bible in Kaoma

Media and Research

Comics and Children’s Bibles

Translation of comics and Children’s Bible into all the major seven regional official languages have been slow due to lack of funds.

Continuous research on language changes in coordination with the Curriculum Development Centre.