Abstract
Oshiwambo is the indigenous language spoken by a sizable population in Namibia. But as the unprecedented social influences such as modernity and technological advances continue to thrive, the speakers gradually abandon their language in favour of English and other dialects. This presents a significant challenge to the development of this language. To examine this phenomenon, the study adopted a qualitative approach, and more precisely, a descriptive design to gather the views from 32 respondents in the Omusatu region, Namibia. Participants were purposively selected to participate in the interviews and the focus group discussions. Research results show that factors such as unclear educational policies, intertribal marriages, and practices of denomination have a major impact on language development. Significantly, the study showed that although this language has the same official standing as English, it is only taught in lower grades and thrives in rural areas. This type of research study is necessary because it shows how the government (through policies and practices) addresses issues of language development in the community. It encourages speakers to take pride in and appreciate their languages, which is an important step towards language promotion. It advocates for increased acknowledgement, integration, and preservation of African languages to sustain traditional practices and mitigate the detrimental effects of language marginalisation and possible extermination.