To have the entire Bible published in Nyamwezi by the end of 2030 so that it can be used by the local Church, and can be read by speakers of the language.

• To translate the Bible into Nyamwezi will support the Church ministry and individual Christians. This is in line with the Strategic Plan of the Bible Society of Tanzania (2018-2022).
• The Strategic Plan emphasizes the Bible Society’s responsibility to facilitate Bible translation into languages without the Bible, and to publish and print the same. The aim is to support the spiritual growth of the community by providing the Word of God in the mother tongue.

The Nyamwezi people live Tabora in western Tanzania in the Kigoma, Rukwa and Tabora regions between Lake Victoria and Lake Rukwa. The estimated number of Nyamwezi speakers is 1,470,000. The Nyamwezi population is estimated to be 15% Christian and 25% Muslim, while 60% adhere to the traditional religion.

The need for a translation of the Old Testament and a revision of the New Testament translation was brought to the attention of the Bible Society by the main denominations in the Nyamwezi area.

According to the 2012 National Census, the average literacy rates in regions where Nyamwezi is spoken are as follows:

• Tabora region: literacy rate 59% (M65.5%; F52.9%)
• Kigoma region: literacy rate 76% (M82.7%; F70.2%)
• Rukwa region: literacy rate 69.9 (M78.8; F61.8)

If found necessary, the translation of the Nyamwezi Bible will be accompanied by a separate literacy program.

• Currently, there are no reading materials in Nyamwezi. However, the use of the language is vigorous in many of the local areas, and thus having the Bible in the language will be an avenue for readers to encounter God through His word.

• An additional indication of the language context is that the Fipa Church has constantly requested the Bible Society of Tanzania to provide the community with the Bible in their language.