There is great veracity in the assertion that the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state was caused by internal than external factors. Internal factors such as successionist politics, exhaustion of minerals, rise of diseases and decline in trade had a great bearing on the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state. However, external factors such as the emergence of a bigger and stronger Mutapa state also paved way for the collapse of Great Zimbabwe. This essay seeks to inspect the view that the decline of Great Zimbabwe was more internally than externally choreographed.

The emergence of successionist politics was significant in the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state. This is because succession disputes arose within the state and disrupted not only the politics but the economics of the Great Zimbabwe state thereby weakening the state. For example, Nyatsimba Mutota who is said to have been impatient for his father’s demise in order to assume kingship rose up in arms to grab power from his father Chibatamatosi. The effect of this was not only promote factionalism but created tension and hostility which culminated in the death of people at a war initiated by Mutota in a bid to assume power. Therefore, the surfacing of successionist politics was significant in the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state.

The exhaustion of minerals was vital in the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state. This is because due to the depletion of previously abundant, vast mineral deposits of gold and salt, many inhabitants of the Great Zimbabwe migrated from the Great Zimbabwe state. These mass migrations triggered the collapse of the Great Zimbabwe state. Thus, exhaustion of minerals was vital in the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state.

The rise of diseases was another crucial factor behind the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state. This is because with the rise of diseases such as sleeping sickness (humans) and nagana in livestock (cattle), many of the inhabitants of Great Zimbabwe state died and their cattle perished. This then necessitated the collapse of the state. Hence, the rise of diseases was crucial in leading to the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state.

The decline in trade was also pivotal in the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state. This is because trade was arguably the backbone of the Great Zimbabwe state and following the depletion of minerals which were needed to engage in trade as well as shifting of trade centers this prompted the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state. For example, upon realization of the less profitability that came with the Great Zimbabwe trade, the foreigners shifted their attention to trading at the Delagoa Bay port. Therefore, the decline in trade was critical in leading to the collapse of the Great Zimbabwe state.

However, external factors such as the rise of a bigger and stronger Mutapa state paved way for the downfall of the Great Zimbabwe state. This is because the Mutapa state had technocratic and competent leadership. More so, the Mutapa state served as a panacea to the multifaceted crisis that rocked Great Zimbabwe thereby threatening its very existence. Thus, the rise of a bigger and stronger Mutapa state was essential in leading to the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state.

To conclude, this essay has closely looked at the view that the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state was caused by internal factors than external factors. On one hand, the surfacing of successionist politics, decline in trade, rise of diseases and exhaustion of minerals led to the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state while on the other hand, the rise of a giant Mutapa state catalysed the downfall of the Great Zimbabwe state. One can conclude that it is a truism that the decline of the Great Zimbabwe state owed much internal than external factors.