Zvishavane District is one of the eight districts in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe. It has Mberengwa District to the south and Shurugwi District to the north. Its capital is Zvishavane town. Previous it was called Shabani district during the colonial period.
There are a number of chiefs in Zvishavane district and these include; Mazvihwa, Masunda, Mapanzure and Wedza among others.
CHIEF MAZVIHWA
The tribe is regarded VaNgowa and the totem is Hove, with Dziva Musaigwa as their chidau. Their official dialect is Chikaranga. Selection of chieftainship is by VaChinda and other senior members of the VaNgowa tribe. They have no svikiro (spirit medium) that assists tehm in the selection process . The elders will decide which house should succeed, then it is upto that house to present its candidate. If the candidate is acceptable to the majority of elders then he will be appointed their leader. Succession is via the most senior member of the family based on the principle that a child can’t rule his father.
History – Newungowa was a young brother of Kuvirimara, the tribe conquered by Chibi. Descendents of Newungowa hived off from the Kuvirimara group and settled on the Ngezi river under the leadership of Mazvihwa, son of Newungowa. The area they moved into was Rozvi territoty controlled by Mawi, a subjugated leader under the Mambo. By the time the power of the Rozvi was dwindling fast, and Vangowa easily succeeded in driving Mawi from the chosen area.
As the tribes increased, it was necessary to spread out and some of the larger family units crossed the Ngezi into what is now Mberengwa district. The formation of matunhu (villages) in Vungowa followed the same system ,i.e. the larger family groups were given separate areas to occupy and control.
It was customery for the incumbent of the Mazvihwa chieftaincy to reside at or near Mazungwe hill where the tribal spirit dwelt. Chiefs has to rule from there and be buried there. Woto, was the first to break the custom, he refused to move down the hills. After the death of Zungura, it is believed that Rivingo should have succeeded, but he declined because his babamnini (uncle) Woto was still alive and living in Lundi reserve. Woto then had to move from Lundi to Bungowa, he chose to settle in the northen edge of the reserve. This has the effect of disrupting the traditional matunhu in that part of the area. The villages in the vicinity of the chief were now taking their cases to the chief as the closest power and this led to the growth of the dunhu around Woto at the expense of Mike, Mapayire and Ruvingo. Matunhu were still further disrupted with the implementation of the land Hunbandry Act, whic proclaimed an area north of the Gwemombe rive as Mazvihwa S.N.A and isolated it from the remainder of the Vungowa territory which became Native Purchase Area.
Investigations reviewed that the Gwemombe river was not a traditional boundery, hence there were three villages cutting across this river; in the case of Lembu (Ruvingo) this has fallen away because Lembu broke away from Ruvingo to form his own community.e. only Mike and Mapayire now cut across the Gwemombe river.
Some of the villages comprising the Mazvihwa community included; Muguti, Muza, Muzoyi, Saka, Gozho, Kandhlela, Mabeta Mpibambi, Wutete and Shonai. In addition, there were kraals under Mazvihwa chief but outside his village like; Nedzi, Mupesi, Mapayire, Mhike, Mawuviri, Chirindu, Murowa, Lembu James, Mutonga, Madzoke, Chishapira and Mabona.
Bounderies
To the north and east the boundery is Sabi river, To the south, they are bound with Mataruse and Negobe of Mberengwa on the Ngezi river. Then to the west they bound with European farming land.
Functions of the chief
Handling cases from the kraals who come directly to him . All kraals have to first take the cases to Vachinda who when necessary refer the cases to the chief. The most common cases include; Adultery, debts, quarrels and other minor civil cases. Cases on appeal go to the District Administrator, Zvishavane.
Common spiritual functions include the MITORO functions held in each dunhu where the communities pray to a common ancestor, these usually follow the pattern of houses. The descendents of each son of Mazvihwa the 1st constitute the houses.
Headmen under Chief Mazvihwa
Headman Mwedzi
The area is called Mwedzi and these are Vangowa by tribe with Hove totem and Musaigwa as chidawo. Selection is by elders of his house. Basis of selection is collateral, they have no svikiro to help with the process. The genealogy tree is as follows:
Chimwaradze,àMzadula–>Zungura-àNedzi–>Sihlahla–>Jumo
The first three also held position of Chief Mazvihwa.
History – this dunhu was given to Mwedzi (Maborwedzi) and his sons continued to operate as vachinda three of whom helped the Mazvihwa chieftainship. Nedzi, son of the eldest son (Chimwaradze) acted after the death of his father and uncles, and he remained the muchinda until Sihlahla took over on his death. Sihlahla became blind and passed the position onto his young brother Jumo. Some of the villages comprising the community are; Nedzi, Sikobo, Shamira, Vurayayi and Makaga among others.
Nedzi claimed that the people of Chishapira and Mabona belonged to his community, and they they lived in the same dunhu but it was discovered that they were separate communities. Sihlahla maintained that tehre were many people senior to Isaka in the house of Mwedzi, i.e. they had a stronger claim to the throne.
Headman Mpesi
The area is called Mpesi and these are Vangowa by tribe with Hove totem and Musaigwa as chidawo. Selection is by elders of his house. Basis of selection is collateral, they have no svikiro to help with the process. The genealogy tree is as follows:
Mazalile(Son of Mazvihwa 1st)–>Mpesi–>Masocha
History – Mpesi was given this area because he was a grandson of Mazvihwa the 1st, born of the eldest son of Mazvihwa, i.e. Mazalile. Mpesi’s dunhu has been recognised by the various chiefs through the years. Villages comprising the community include; Mutsindikwa, Mutahwa Mhloro, Mzila, Mpesi, Madubiko, Ruwanza. The other half of Sendekwa kraal lived in Mapayire and they belong to that community.
Headman Murebgwa (Mapayire)
The area is called Mrebgwa and these are Vangowa by tribe with Hove totem and Musaigwa as chidawo. Selection is by elders of his house. Basis of selection is collateral, they have no svikiro to help with the process. The genealogy tree is as follows:
Makanyire(Son of Mazvihwa 1st)–>Mrebgwa–>Mapayire
History – Mpesi was given this area because he was a grandson of Mazvihwa the 1st. Both Mazalile and Makanyire were given areas. The area of Mrebgwa once reached as far as the Shabi river, but when Woto became chief and moved into this area from Lundi reserve the three matunhu of Mike, Murebgwa and Ruvingo were disrupted. Some of the villages in this community included; Chikandiwa, Dube, Jni (Majoni), Masocha, Mvigwi and Matamba among others.
Headman Marandure (Mhike)
The area is called Marandure and these are also Vangowa by tribe with Hove totem and Musaigwa as chidawo. Language is Chikaranga. Selection is by elders of his house. Basis of selection is collateral, they have no svikiro to help with the process. The genealogy tree is as follows:
Marandure (grandson of Mazvihwa)–>Mupotekwa–>Chakawanda–>Mhike
History – It is believed that Marozvi was a very brave soldier, highly regarded by the Vangowa. He was given this area and told to rule his followers. The house of Murozvi have always been regarded as an independent headmanship. Some of the villages included; Nike, Mukondombera, Shangwa, Mahashi, John Muneri, Tasara, Muguti, Mutomba, Gwanyanya and Mlinki among others. Mhike’s area was very much larger before the arrival of Woto. Gozho (Gudo) was once considered as one of the senior “Makoca” of the area and he used to refer his cases to Mhike before the arrival of Woto, afterwhich he dealt directly with the chief. Gozho is of the Gurajena tribe, and two kraals (Mutomba and Butete) split from him, however, Butete is of the Bangowa family straight to the chief ignoring Gozho and Mhike.
Headman Mudadisi Ndingune
The area is called Vugwi and these are Vangowa by tribe with Hove totem and Musaigwa as chidawo. Language is Chikaranga. Selection is by elders of his house. Basis of selection is collateral, they have no svikiro to help with the process. The genealogy tree is as follows:
History – It is claimed that Mudadisi was one of the first vachinda to be appointed in the Vangowa territory – presumable appointed by Madzoke, one of the well-known earlier chiefs. Mudadisi’s area was known as Vugwi. When he died, his sons i.e. Mawuviri and company were too young to take the position, so Ruvingo, an elder cousin who had just then moved into the area was made muchinda, to rule the area until Mawuviri came of age. Ruvingo was very popular with the people of this area so he was allowed to remain till his death. A few kraals living next to the late Ruvingo considered themselves a separate entity and would approach Ruvingo’s son with their issues before going to Mawuviri. Some of the villages under this chief; Muchimbiriki, Chisatshisa, Madiye, Mbobo Sidabe, Bayi, Vugwe, Lubingo, Jani and Taruvinga among others.
Other Headmen under Mazvihwa
Other headman under Mazvihwa not explained in detail include; Msibandi (Zvitavanhu area), Nangati(Murowa area), Ruvingo (Lembu James), Tachiwona (Mutonga area), Madzoke (Maware area), Mukwakwe area and Muparuri (Zuruvi area)
LUNDI RESERVE CHIEFS
Communities under the Lundi reserve area include; Masunda, Mapanzure, Wedza, Msipani, Mafara, Ngedhleni, Shiku, Danga, Nduna, Matenda and Mpakami
CHIEF MASUNDA
These are Mabonda by tribe with Shiri Hungwe as their totem and Mawokomavi their chidau. Their language is Karanga. These are claimed to have originated from the Zambezi, and that they first settled in Chief Gutu. Vambe was born of a daughter of Gutu Mashandura who their leader had taken in marriage. A clash broke out with Gutu and they fled to Bokayi and then to Chinuwa where Vambe died. His son Tirivangani (Tavahla) succeeded him and the tribe moved to Ngorokwe. They then had a split in their ranks and one section moved to Mpakamire while Masunda came to this district, after being chased by Chibi.
Mavuna led them to the district after his father had been killed by Bangowa. Mavuna, it is claimed was recognised by the Rozvi as a chief and was granted settling rights in this area, which was then uninhabited. Their first kraals were built at Chokurerera, a hill with many caves. It was Mavuna who allocated land to the other VaShiri factions in Shabani (Zvishavane), Chibi and Selukwe (Shurugwi). When Mavuna died he was succeeded by Bungani or Mbingana, this was during the time of Mzilikazi. Masunda succeeded his brother Mbingana.
Chief Masunda has seventeen headman (Vachinda) – Dema(Mafuwe area), Pikiri (Ngome area), Ndume (Mbwanyire area), Pagiwa(Fizho area), Java(Ngome area), Kufa/Divana(Mandava area), Mzete(Mtunugwa area), Dzwiti(Chavangwa area), Chivombo, Vaka, Magora (Rusinge area), Marovanidze(Mataba), Jonyo(Mbirashava area), Tendereke(Choni area), Runde (Runde area), Socha and Muguti(Marazanye), Shiku (Dube Musinauta totem of Manyika/Mtasa tribe), Nduna (Dube Musinauta totem of Manyika/Mtasa tribe) and Matenda (Vahera Shava Musiyamwa).
CHIEF MAFALA
The area is called Dadaya or Mafala Subnames are Ngedhleni and Mabetshula. Their memory of early history is very scanty. They remember living near Bulawayo and later lived on the Insiza river near Fort Rixon, under the leadership of Mufangilele. They belonged to the Indinana regiment under Mzilikazi. They were moved from Insiza by Government to present area in 1912. They found Ngedhleni already settled in the area and he became a mlisa of chief Mafala. In 1948 squatters were again moved off some European farms and those who could not find room in Lundi had to seek land elsewhere.
Some of the kraals in the community include; Mabetshula (Mafala), Maqeda, Makonje, Mghau, Mlingo, Njela, Ndukwana and Sinini among others. There is no clear boundery between chief Mafala and Wedza.
Ngedhleni are Ndebele by tribe of Mkanye totem and Mabina isitemo(chidau). This tribe were living at Insiza under chief Ngungu, who regarded Ngedhleni as a mlisa. Their traditional land was required for Europeans farms and that’s when they moved to this area. Ngedhleni arrived a few years before Mafala. Upon arrival, Ngedhleni was offered chieftainship but was afraid and volunteered to be under Mafala who was following. When they arrived in the area they found chief Wedza and Masunda, they were given land by Masunda. Chief Wedza was on the southern side near Oreti siding, but the main Wedza village was to the north near a big hill. Some of the kraals that lived near Zvegona school included; Wuchenga, Njela, Masthalaga, Matanda, Zvishumba and Ndangwa.
CHIEF MAPANZURE
The chief is regarded by his subjects as Ishe. These are of VaMari tribe, of Shumba Murambwi totem and their dialect is Karanga. Mapanzure, the 1st is claimed to have been the son of chief Chibi. They left Chibi to live with an uncle called Gwere or Pekere who was a headman under Mambo Razwi, this was long before Ndebele raids. They did however, find Masunda and his people already in the vicinity. Their uncle Gwere was of the Shoko totem and was a “Muzukuru” of the Razwi, this group is no longer in existence in the area. Some of Mapanzure’s children included; Maromo, Munangagwa, Chengeta, Mahwebu, Mdhliwa, Zibengwa,Shonayi,Chinguwa, Maplank and Chifana.
Mapanzure is alleged to have given two daughter to Masunda in order to remain on peaceful terms and presumably also for settling rights. Chief Masunda granted Mapanzure a sub-chieftainship and Mapanzure’s son Zibengwa was the first chief to be recognised by the government. A large part of their area was taken for European farming land. It appears as if most of this tribe first lived on what was then De Beers’s ranch. Some movements into the area included; Marisa (Razwi), Pavari(Ngara), Gatawa(Makumbuza), Chatira(Hera),Chihlawa(Swazi),Chidoba (Gurajena), Ngazi(Ndebele), Nyama (Chiwunganyi), Mfeka(Razwi), Mudzumba (Razwi), Gukuta (Dumbuseya), Musimudzi(Shava), Mapanda (Shoko), Mashagwa(Dube-Shangwe) and Paswa (Ndlovu).
Some of the villages comprising the community included; Shigwindiri, Madira (chief), Madonoro, Ngazi, Mbayago, Mbelengwa, Tigere, Vagatsha, Zibenka, Mahleka, Maketo, Mawite, Ngazimbi and Madhlazwibi.
CHIEF WEDZA
These are Dumbuseya (Swazi) by tribe of the Moyo Masukume totem, with Karanga as their main language. Succession alternates between three main houses – sons of Wedza, the 1st.
History – the original chief Wedza was of Swazi origin and came to this country with Zwangendaba. Wedza didn’t follow Zwangendaba across the Zambezi, but settled at Wedza mountain. After a period they were driven off by chief Svosve and they fled to Chibi’s territory. They assisted Chibi in defeating the VaNgowa, after which they moved to Belingwe (Mberengwa) and settled in Chief Mposi’s area during his absence to the Transvaal (South Africa). Mposi returned and Wedza was driven from his area, fleeing to Mushawasha in the Fort Victoria (Masvingo ) province. Lubengula later invited them to the Fort Rixon area, where they lived for a brief period. Wedza later moved to an area near Bannockburn leaving his younger brother in Fort Rixon. The Wedza people had several skirmishes with the occupation troops, the last was at Belingwe where they were defeated.
Wedza controlled a fairly large area from Belingwe (Mberengwa) to the Lundi river, with the Shabi as a boundary between them and Chief Masunda. Their traditional area included a large portion of what became European farms around Dadaya Mission. While Mr Campbell was the Native Commissioner, at Belingwe, Wedza was asked to give settling rights to the Mafala people, who had to move from Fort Rixon. The first to arrive was Ngedhleni in 1910 followed by Mafala in 1912. These Ndebele occupied an area in the center of his area and virtually cutting the Wedza people into two halves. Most of his subjects has to go to other chiefs like chief Mazvihwa, this is a very sore point with the Wedza people.
Reserach by Misheck Samanyanga of Afrikatribes & Zimtribes – sources from National Archives S2929
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