Tag: The  Mutapa State

The reconstruction of the Rozvi state is not only controversial  but like opening a Pandora's box of paradoxes.  Confusion by scholars simply do not add up. What comes out of the confusion  is simply clear to conclude that the Rozvi descended from the Torwa state or was created at almost the same time Mutapa was created by Mutota Chibatamatosi  in the early 15th century.

The main cause of the collapse of the Mutapa State was the Portuguese political social  and economic interference with the empire.  From 1505 when the Portuguese entered the southern African  region, they brought havoc and anarchy.

The Mutapa state had a strong army which was needed to control the vast lands. The army was headed by the King as chief commander of soldiers. The King was helped by a commander-in -chief,  Nengomasha the second most powerful official  in the Mutapa state.

It rested on three major branches of production -agriculture,  livestock herding and external trade. Traditional  school of thought support the view that it was mainly through external trade that the state developed.

The Mutapa himself was the head of state. The Mutapa was the judicial  leader,  religious leader, army commander and land distributor. The Mutapa was semi-divine because of his association with the 'mhondoro'.  He had powers of life and death over the subjects.  

The Mutapa State was founded on solid military grounds by a prince of Great Zimbabwe, who was a military genius. With a few soldiers and elders like Chingoo,  Chinongwena, Chitokodzima,  Nhokwara and Nyatsimba Chibata Matosi embarked on this sojourn.

Important  changes  took  place  in  Southern  African societies during the Iron Age. These changes included Food production, Tool making, Specialization, leading to trade, Surplus production for trade and Settled existence.