THE ROZVI STATE

The Rozvi kingdom was also known as the Changamire state. The State is believed to have existed
between 1445 and 1695. According to oral tradition Changa who briefly ruled the Rozvi in the 1490s
was the first to use the title Changamire. Changa was son of Matope and a slave wife. After his death
his son adopted the title Changamire and moved to Guruuswa area south-western Zimbabwe. The
Changamire State appeared to have disappeared for 150 years only to re-emerge in the 1680’s as a
very strong state under the leadership of Changamire Dombo. He was believed to be once a
herdsman of Munhumutapa Mukombwe. Changamire Dombo was also known to be a magician.

Other schools of thought believe the Rozvi originated from the Torwa State. Changamire Dombo
conquered the Karanga and established himself in the Butwa/Buchwa area, later he conquered the
Mutapa, Uteve and Manyika areas under the leadership of Changamire’s son Negomo. In the 1670s
it is believed to have gathered followers and declared independence and was forced to move away
from the Mutapa towards the southwest were he fought, conquered and absorbed the Torwa and
Karanga people then he established his own powerful state and Capital called Danamombe. The
state adopted the name Rozvi from the Shona name Kurozva “Defraud” or “Destroyers”, soon after
the Rozvi embarked on a conquest program from surrounding areas defeating the Mutapa, Uteve
and Manyika. All the conquered people were forced to pay tribute. The state stretched to Limpopo.
It existed up to the 17th century. Changa’s Rozvi included Changamire, Changamire Dombo,
Changamire Negomo, Changamire Nechagadzike, Changamire Nechapingura, Changamire
Rupandamanhanga, Changamire Gumboremvura, Changamire Chirisamhuru and Changamire
Torwechipi/Tohwechipi.

Military strength

 Changamire Dombo defeated the Portuguese in many battles between 1684 and 1695.
 Changamire Dombo was said to have had special powers like changing the colour of cattle,
making rain and making soldiers brave, however, the Portuguese thought he was a wizard or
magician. The may have been because of the clever tricks he used in battle.
 He soldiers would often form a half circle around their enemy.
 Dombo soldiers used many kinds of weapons like wooden clubs, assegais, spears, bow and
arrows, cow hides as shields and Rozvi officials used guns.
 Mambo received guns from the Portuguese as tribute therefore the highest ranking Rozvi
officials had guns.

Political Organisation

 Mambo was head of state, his title was hereditary, succession was collateral and
chieftainship was passed from father to son.
 The king had the duty to install new chiefs.
 Provincial and District chiefs were responsible for maintaining peace and order in their
areas; they also collected tribute on behalf of the king.
 Vassal chiefs also paid tribute to the king as a sign of loyalty, failure to pay tribute meant
great punishment by military leader (Tumbare).
 Tumbare took over as leader when a king died until a new one was elected.
 The mambo was the commander of the army; he had a very strong army which maintained
peace and security in the state.
  The army possessed guns acquired from Portuguese through trade therefore they could raid
neighbouring states easily. It was also used to punish rebellious chiefs and subjects.
 The mambo conducted religious ceremonies with the help of priests.
 The King was advised by military leaders and provincial governors when ruling.
 He was head of the judiciary and he made sure there was fairness.
 Mambo distributed land to provincial chiefs.
 Headman was responsible for supervising homesteads.

Economic Organisation

 Crop cultivation

They grew millet, sorghum and peas. They also grew exotic crops like maize, watermelons, tobacco,
potatoes and citrus fruits. They practised shifting cultivation and burning farming.

 Pastoralism

They reared cattle, goats and sheep. They got meat, milk and hides from those animals.

 Hunting and Gathering

Hunting was done by men and was an important source of meat and hides. Gathering was done by
women and they gathered berries, roots and insects.

 Trade

They practised internal and external trade. They exchanged cattle for grain in times of draught. They
exported gold, ivory, iron, copper and lead. They exchanged these with clothes, beads, seashells,
guns and candles with the Portuguese.

 Mining

Gold was the main mineral, it was mined at Buchwa. They also mined copper, iron and lead. Iron was
used to manufacture tools and weapons. Copper was used to make bangles.

 Tribute

All subjects and Portuguese paid tribute. At an installation of new chiefs the chief was obliged to pay
tribute as a sign of allegiance therefore the chief paid tribute to the king annually

 Craftwork

They made wood carvings and pottery.

 Blacksmithing

Blacksmiths made iron tools.

 Fishing

It supplemented their diet.

 Raiding

They raided neighbouring states for cattle and women.

Social organisation

People were organised into homesteads.

A lineage head ensured good conductions of religious ceremonies and other ceremonies.
There was sexual division of labour; man had several social duties which included herding
cattle, building houses, making tools, skinning animals etc.
Females did household chores such as taking care of children, cooking, gathering firewood
and wild fruits, fetching water and making pottery.
Homesteads were related into Moyo totem.
They believed in “Mwari” whom they worshiped through Shona priests
Shona priests linked the living and the dead.
They believed mambo descended from God.
Ancestral spirits were also vital; there were other spirits which they believed to live in
mountains and pools of water.
They practised to “kuronzera” whereby those without cattle were given by the king to use
for manure and milk, but were not allowed to sell them or kill them.
They sang and danced on important occasions like weddings, funerals and religious
ceremonies.
Territorial mediums solved succession disputes.
Spirit mediums formed members of mambo’s council and could make decisions for the state.

Decline of the Rozvi State

 Civil wars- which were then followed by succession disputes which disrupted other
economic activities.
 Drought - caused the decline as some people moved to favourable parts of the area which
weakened their economy.
 Overpopulation - the king lost control and led to some political divisions.
 Attacks by Nguni groups running away from Mfecane - they were attacked by
Zwangendaba when he was defeated by Soshangane. They were also attacked and
incorporated into the Ndebele State.
 Decline in Trade - they lost control in trade which once made them very prosperous, limited
technology made mining difficult and elephant population was decreasing rapidly.
 Coming of Europeans - they were finally destroyed by the BSAC led by Cecil John Rhodes in
1890.