THE ROZVI STATE

1. ‘’There is no state without origins, however to trace that of the Rozvi is to open a Pandora box of
confusion’’. Validate this statement.

2. Discuss the origins of the Rozvi state.

ORIGINS
Like that of the Mutapa, the origins of the Rozvi is a matter of controversy, various scholars attempted
in vein to trace the origins of the Rozvi state but in vain. One of them Dr MJ Sibanda purports that the
Rozvi state was founded by Changamire Dombo a descended of the Torwa. Changamire or leader.
This view of Sibanda is supported by P.E Tindal in his book the History of Central Africa. When he
says ‘’from the falling Torwa states Dombo constructed a strong state’’.This use of the word
construction by Tindall in that statement suggests that the Rozvi came into being on account of the
effects of Changamire Dombo. The origins of the Rozvi state is also given in Portuguese sources.

1. Dos Antos Written Records

He purports that the Rozvi state was founded by Changamire Dombo who was nothing but a poor
cattle herder of the Mutapa. He says that Changamire Dombo was treated with cynicism that any man
in his rightful mind could not stand. On account of that Changamire Dombo fled with the wealthy of
the Mutapas and founded his own state. Appreciated are these efforts of Dos Antos to trace the origins
of the Rozvi state. Nevertheless apparent are the blattering weaknesess attributed to his records. First
of all the word Changamire meant Mambo, a Shona word which means King but it seems as if Dos
Antos takes the word Changamire as if it was the first name of Changamire Dombo which is
incorrect. On these grounds the writings of Dos Antos falls short of credit.

2. Da Dominica
He claimed that Dombo was a deadly wizard or a magician who was able to conquer other states
using magic, thus he reffered to the Rozvi state as a magic state. He also claims that the Shona name
Kurozva which means to trick and spoil using magic was hence forth given to the group which
followed Dombo and the name was later to be shortened Rozvi. Though one might be attempted to
believe this who is supported by Stokes and Brown in their book the Zambezia Past, it is apparent that
Dominica’s writings are influenced by his Eurocentric. This is because many Europeans believed that
they were defeated by African States on account of their ability to use magic.

3.S.I.G Mudenge, The Mutapa Book

Advocates that the Rozvi state came into being after Dombo in 1700 led a strong army of about 2000
to 4000 men to the small states of Butwa and defeated the Torwa. Between 1684 and 1695 he is said
to have launched campaigns agaist the Portuguese and expelled them from the Zambezi valley and
then built a strong state which included the Torwa, Manyika, Kalanga, and the Mutapa on the
Zambezi Plateau. This can be believed because the Headquaters were there. Fist Danamombe where
the former state was situated. It was later to be moved to Manyika i.e Tavazikamabo, on account of
the way they easily conqured enemies. The Portuguese called them Rozvi to mean Destroyers or
Despoilers. D.N Beach also agrees with these notions of Mudenge in his book the Shona in
Zimbabwe, though he purports that the Rozvi state was a direct state to the Zimbabwe state based at
Khami i.e Rozvi.
4. Phimister and Procter in their book People and Power
They give two views from historians as to the origins of the Rozvi state.

a) Historians who purpot that the Rozvi state came from an area in the North Eastern area of Zambezi
between the Mutapa and the Torwa state in the South-West around 1690s. This was roughly the same
time when the Rozvi defeated the Portuguese out of Manyika and Mutapa. These historians refer to
traditions involving the founding ancestor of the Rozvi state, Dombo and to the two hills called
Hurungwe and Zhombe in North Eastern Zimbabwe. They also reffered to Portuguese documents
written in 1684 and 1696 claiming that Rozvi power was based in the North East. They also wrote that
the Mambo rulers descended from the same ancestor with the same Moyo or Moyondizvo totem. A
praise name which according to tradition originated in an area North East of the central area of the
Rozvi state.

b) Other Historians suggest that the Rozvi state was a continueation of the Torwa state probably under
a new ruling lianage but certainly under a new name after 1680. It is believed that they were conflicts
between lineage in the mid 1690 over who should rule Torwa. On account of these conflicts there was
a destruction of the Torwa capital, Khami. Thus the new capital was built at Danamombe. There was
also depression in trade because of the disappearance of the Muslim Mwenyi the major trade to the
Torwa in the 17 century i.e it is said that the Rozvi state came into being from the remnants of the
Torwa state. However one might argue against the view that the Rozvi was a new ruling lineage in the
Torwa state, archlogical evidence brings to spot light striking similarity of artefacts, tools, buildings,
jewellery, pottery etc between the Torwa and the Rozvi state. Surely if the Rozvi was a new ruling
lineage there were likely to be some difference.

ORAL TRADITION PERTAINING THE ORIGINS OF THE ROZVI STATE.

As according to the book of Moyana (Politics of Land) it is thought abroad that the Rozvi state was
founded by Dombo who had special powers, it is said that he was able to make soldiers brave and
even change the colour of cattle. It was then on account of these activities that he was able to attract
many people into his bosom, consequently forming the Rozvi state. Dombo was also known as
Chikura. Others also believe that there was a battle between two large granite mountains called
Hurungwe and Zhombe near modern day town of Murehwa. Zhombe was defeated and Dombo tried
to make Hurungwe mountain his throne. On account of his efforts , Dombo appered to be a hero and
the masses ralied behind him. Other traditions talk of how Chikura was born to a virgin and ate seeds
out of the ground as a child, his father was Mwari called him to rule the state. Other traditions relates
to his ancestors of the Changamire lived on hills and how Chikura built his own hill higher than theirs
out of earth with ivory steps to overshadow theirs. These are clearly references to the terrained top
residence of the Torwa rulers with their Ivory task set into the sides of the stairways. There are also
many traditions about how the ruling Torwa lineage married into other lineages and after struggles
involving magic and trickery brought them under their control and formed the Rozvi state.
Notwithstanding these controversies one thing is for certain that there was a Rozvi state founded by
Changamire Dombo and really existed.

POLITICAL SET UP OF THE ROZVI STATE.

The state had a militaristic structure and a famous army throughout Africa. It was located in the South
West of Zimbabwe. At the height of their power the Rozvi armies operated as far as Zumbo and
Manyika in the North and East. In a changing political map small chiefdoms were swallowed up and
driven off their lands by larger ones. Chiefdoms, succession disputes which often involved outsiders
as allies of the rival lineages. Present day communities have traditions that a new Chief need to be
confirmed in his position by the Mambo the most powerful of all the rulers but this did not mean that
the Mambo ruled over those Chiefdoms. He nearly offered some protection and recognition.
Powerfull Chiefdoms often refused to pay tribute to the Rozvi and in some cases the Mambo
intervened forcefully to force them to do so. Although power was not consistant and stable the Rozvi
remained most powerful and largest of the many Shona Chiefdoms throughout this period. In this case
force rather than a common culture and lineage ties held the state intact. Young men from different
Chiefdoms and Lineages were forced to join the Rozvi armies by rewards of royal cattle and cattle
captured in raids.

Moreso young men were also sent to serve in the army as a form of tribute by subject Chiefs in return
of cattle and security. Controlling large heards of cattle was more important than controlling trade for
the power of the Rozvi Mambos. This created the need to increase the Royal cattle heads through
raiding and intervaining in the politics of other chiefdoms to obtain tribute over a wide area. This
increased the dependency of the Mambo in their armies. In many areas the Rozvi army collected
tribute from local chiefs. This prevented Junior chiefs from becoming too powerfull and independent.
Rozvi collected tribute in the whole of Zimbabwe and also beyond the Shoshangai hills in Botswana.
Traditions and sources stress the use of magic, tricks and spoils by the Rozvi armies. This was clearly
intended to strike feelings of fear into any chief who revolted Rozvi and was also a tactic used by
Tshaka.

These traditions together with exaggerated Portuguese reports of the Rozvi. Violent and terror
probably create an exaggerated impression of Rozvi power. The picture they paint is that of an
absolute and brutal state ruling directly over the whole of the Zimbabwean Plateau. In fact the Shona
chiefdoms of the Mutapa state. Mazoe Valley, Barwe, Teve most of the South Eastern Highlands, the
South Eastern Lowveld, the Nambuya area and the Zambezi Valley remained independent or paid
tribute from time to time. Even within the areas regularly travessed by Rozvi armies, Rozvi power
fluctuated greatly as the power of the local chiefs rose and fall. Thus it can be noted that the
Portuguese exaggerations are there to justify themselves for the defeat they suffered in the hands of
the Rozvi. Foreign trade was of less importance than it had been in the early state. In addition to grain
and cattle tribute was also paid in gold and ivory. The Mambo exchanged these for luxury imported
goods from the Mwenyi and later the Portuguese. In early stages these luxury goods were used to
reward members of the ruling class for their loyalty. The Changamire did not allow the Portuguese to
enter the state they treaded through Vashambadzi or agents of the Portuguese. At Danamombe
archaeologists found Chineese porcilim, bottles of Dutch alcohol, Poruguese canvas, jewellery and
over 25kg of gold. Most Torwa lineages retained their positions of authority under the rule of the
Changamire.

Traditions has it that the commander of the Rozvi army and chief collector of tribute was an official
known as the Tumbare, he came from one of the senior families of the ruling class and stood in place
of the Changamire if the throne was a succession dispute or if the heir was too young to rule. The
Rozvi also experienced succession disputes on the death of a ruler which contributed to its fall. This
was one of the most weakness of African states esp when facing outside aggression. Tumbare helped
to solve this dispute amongst the ruling class over who should rule. In a way this provided the
complete destruction of the Rozvi state.
THE DECLINE OF THE ROZVI STATE.
The Rozvi from their basings in South West of Zimbabwe were recognised by tributary chiefs over
the whole Zimbabwe for 150 years, they took over from and transformed the Torwa state. However
by the 19th century Rozvi state was declining. Many chiefdoms stopped paying tribute to the Rozvi
Mambo. The weakned Rozvi state was raided by several Nguni and Sotho speaking people. These had
been displaced from their homes in south Africa by the Dutch and British colonial expansion and
warfare among African states. In about 1835 Zwangendaba attacked Danamombe. Changamire
Chirisamhuru was defeated and died at Manyango. Nxava invaders caused further destruction many
more tributary chiefdoms took the opportunity to break away from the Rozvi. The Ndebele under
Mzilikazi invaded and settled in the South West of Zimbabwe in 1838 and they found the Rozvi state
broken and divided, many Shona chiefdoms formerly tributary to the Rozvi became tributary to the
Ndebele. However other Rozvi chiefdoms and tributaries continued to resist Ndebele demands of
tribute and even raided Ndebele villages themselves. After 1853 the Rozvi seized to exist as a strong
political force in Central Africa thus although it was in existence it was under the Ndebele.