The term Rozvi means destroyers. Rozvi armies were feared because they totally destroyed their enemies.
They took livestock and grain,killed all men and old women,burnt the homes,captured the young men.
Rozvi Capitals/Centre of Power
- Matopos.
- Khami.
- Nhava yaTumbare.
- Danamombe.
- Insukhamni.
- Jere.
- nyanga.
- Nalatale.
Names of rulers/Mambos
- Changa.
- Dombo.
- Chirisamhuru.
- Chirisamhuru II.
- Rupandamanhanga.
- Gumboremvura.
- Tohwechipi.
- Nechagadzike.
- Dyembeu.
- Nechasike.
- Gumboreshumba.
Economic activities
- Agriculture
- Gathering
- Livestock keeping
- Mining
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Internal trade
- External trade
- Raiding
- Tribute payment
Crafts Practiced
- Sculpture
- Masonry
- Weaving
- Pottery
- Basket making
- Leather tanning
- Drum making
- Ornament making
- Iron smelting
- Tool making
- Salt extraction.
Rozvi social Life
- Village cooperatives made work easier.
- Loan cattle were given.
- They wore clothes made from animal skins.
- They lived in pole and dagga houses.
- They had social classes.
- They believed in mwari.
- They believed the spirits lived in forests,mountains, rivers and pools.
- Mediums chose the king.
- Spirit mediums also gave advice in times of war.
- King was a divine ruler.
- Traditional healers doctored the soldiers.
- They had rest days eg chisi.
- There was division of labor.
Political activities
- The ruling family belonged to moyo totem.
- King was given tittle Mambo.
- The king appointed and dismissed provincial chiefs.
- Rulers of provinces paid tribute to Mambo.
- Tumbare was an important official,he was the army commander ,he collected tribute,He also acted as king when king is seriously ill or dead.
- The royal fire was a symbol of unity.
- System of loan cattle strengthened King, he gained followers
- Religion strengthened political system
- Spirit mediums solved disputes.
- Rain making ceremonies brought unity.
Decline and Fall of the Rozvi state
1. Internal problems
a. Economic problems
- Minerals became exhausted.
- Infertile land and shortage.
- Siltation of rivers.
- Shortage of pastures for livestock.
- Ivory shortage.
b. Political problems
- Succession disputes in the moyo houses.
- Civil wars.
- Weak leadership.
- Division between political and religious leaders.
- Tumbare became ambitious.
- The state became too big-poor communication.
- Some provinces refused to pay tribute.
c. Social problems
- Diseases eg malaria, small pox.
- People fled because of wars.
- Natural disasters like droughts.
- Hunger and famine.
2. External Factors
a. Attack by Ngoni groups
- Ngoni group led by Zwangendaba,Nyamazana,Maseko,Nxaba and then Ndebele groups led by Mzilikazi.
- Chirisamhuru wascaptured and killed by Nyamazana.
- The Rozvi became part of the Ndebele.
- They changed names,language and culture.Mpofu-mhofu.Ncube-Soko.Dube-Tembo.Ndlovu-Simboti.
b. Activities of the Portuguese
- Unfair trade.
- Involved in civil wars
- Forced labor.
- Hunted with guns and this led to shortage of ivory.
By: T.Titus Nyakudyara
Twitter: @NyakudyaraTitus
