Account for the rise of the Mutapa state from 1200 AD and its economic activities.

Were
environmental factors more to blame for the collapse of the Rozvi state than the political factors?

The rise and ultimate expansion of the Mutapa State owed in part to the decline of Great
Zimbabwe. According to oral traditions, Nyatsimba Mutota migrated from the declining Great
Zimbabwe and began his conquests of the Korekore and Tavara of the Dande and Chidema areas
It has been claimed that his victims were so impressed by his military exploits that they
nicknamed him Mwene Mutapa, ‘owner of conquered lands’ or ‘master pillager’, hence the birth
of the Mutapa dynasty. He then embarked on an expansionist policy that resulted in the creation
of a vast Mutapa empire which stretched from the Zambezi valley into Mozambique. Some of
the reasons which led to the rise of Mutapa state are: The scarcity of resources such as salt and
pastures at Great Zimbabwe. It is believed that the Dande had vast reserves of salt deposits that
enabled Mutota to establish the state as salt was important in their diet. Succession disputes at
Great Zimbabwe led to the rise of ambitious leaders such as Mutota who fled to establish his
own state. Population pressure at Great Zimbabwe forced people such as Mutota to move in
search of resources including land. The Dande area had fertile soils for Agriculture and watery
pastures for livestock. Availability of hunting grounds in Mutapa state attracted more people. It
is believed that there was the availability of elephants in the Dande area.

POLITICAL ORGANISATION

The king or Mambo led the State and had many advisors and sub-chiefs to assist him in
governing the State. These were aristocratic officials, territorial kings and chiefs who were part
of the royal lineage and were well trusted. The army general was known as the Tumbare and he
was the king’s right-hand man. He led the state at the death of the king. The king was the head of
the judicial, military and religious affairs of the state. He was in charge of all communal land and
therefore everything in the state was regarded as his (cattle, ivory, grain and war captives among
others).The royal wives were also regarded as officials and powerful. Mutapa’s wives and
officials wore expensive jewellery and clothes made from cotton and silk. A large army was
maintained which traveled long distances, patrolling, collecting tribute and cattle and brought
new communities into the empire. Tribute was used to maintain the kings’ control of the state
and used as a way to pay homage and loyalty to the king. Since the king and his ruling class were
in control of long distance trade they also received annual tribute from the Swahilis and the
Portuguese. The foreigners would pay tribute in the form of luxury goods and ornaments. This
was meant to show respect to the king and in return, they would be allowed free passage into the
state for trading purposes. In times of drought, the king would feed the nation from his royal
granary (Zunde raMambo). The Mutapa had a royal fire which was to be kept burning at all
times as a sign of his everlasting authority. The kingship was hereditary and a collateral system
was used (From father – 1st Son – 2nd Son – 3rd Son). The king also presided over rituals such
as rain making and spirit appeasement ceremonies as well as enchantments before going to war.
This showed his superior divine power and a source of inspiration. All this helped him to rule the
state with very little opposition or rebellion. They practised a system of cattle leasing which
aimed at giving poor people milk, but politically it aimed at strengthening the king’s dominion.
This was known as kuroonzera/ukusisa system.

Economic activities

Agriculture, trade and mining were the three pillars of the state’s economy.

Mining - The Mutapa people mined gold, iron and copper. Copper was used for making
jewellery and for trade. Iron was mined mainly for making iron tools for use by the Mutapa
people in farming, hunting and for war. Gold was for making jewellery and for trade with the
Swahili and the Portuguese. The demand was so high that even the king began to demand tribute
in the form of gold and other goods obtained through trade with the Swahili and
Portuguese. They practised alluvial mining due to the simple iron tools that they used. The
mining was also a laborious and dangerous activity. It was difficult to drain out water from the
mines during the rainy seasons or upon reaching the water table. Traditionally people used to
mine during the dry seasons but the Swahili and Portuguese forced the people to mine in summer
because of their increased demand for gold. This affected other activities especially
farming. Also in need to get more gold the Swahili and Portuguese entered the Mutapa and
began to interfere with the Mutapa politics. They caused confusion in the State resulting in the
weakening and decline of the State.
Agriculture - The soil was very fertile and the main crops grown were rapoko, millet and
sorghum. The invention of iron tools allowed the clearing of larger fields and permanent crop
production. Products from agriculture were paid as tribute to the king and given as food hand-
outs to the subjects in times of droughts. They also domesticated cattle for milk, hides and meat.
Cattle were a symbol of wealth and were slaughtered on special occasions.

Hunting - Hunting was a traditional practice as it was a source of meat and hides for clothing
and trade. They hunted for both small and big animals. They used iron spears, arrows and
knobkerries. The dog was an important hunting animal. They also used nets (mambure) and fibre
string snares for trapping animals. Hunting was a man’s activity and even the Mutapa hunted on
some occasions. Hunting became more trade oriented with the increasing demand for ivory and
skins. Men were required to pay tribute in the form of precious skins and ivory. This was a
dangerous activity but the people were compelled by the tribute credit obligations to take the
risk. Hunting was also done for leisure.

Tribute payment - The Mutapa, like most African States, charged a loyalty tribute on its
subjects, which was the only way the Mutapa king could realise who was under his control and
who had to be attacked. It was a way to measure the extent of his authority. Every family had to
pay tribute to the King through the village head. The villages then paid through the sub chiefs
who in turn paid through the chiefs and provincial rulers. The defeated vassal chiefdoms had to
pay tribute to the king .Examples of these included the kings of Uteve, Barwe and Manyika.

Both environmental and political factors contributed significantly to the collapse of the Rozvi
state. Under political factors the fall can also be attributed to internal issues like their political
system which served to enrich the royal family at the expense of the ordinary leading to
resentment and loss of support. Mfecane produced raiders like Nxaba, Nyamazana, Soshangane
and other Nguni groups who ravaged the state for cattle, grain and women. Depletion of
resources such as gold and ivory-trading items were no longer able to sustain the Rozvi economy
and the state was too vast to be ruled by one leader. Civil wars and succession disputes worsened
the political situation of the state and struggle for power among the Rozvi families after the death
of Changamire. Under environmental factors ,successive droughts were also responsible for the
decline of its economic base which led to environmental degradation. This meant that the
agricultural economy that is cattle rearing and crop farming was no longer as strong as it used to
be thus causing unnecessary migration of people in search of good pastures for their cattle. The
state became stateless hence vulnerable to Nguni groups. Therefore in conclusion, I think
political factors were more to blame than environmental factors for the collapse of the Rozvi
state.
REFERENCE:

https://www.revision.co.zw/reasons-for-the-fall-of-the-rozvi-state/ (accessed on 19/10/18)

https://www.bartleby.com>writing (accessed on 18/10/18)

https://www.revision.co.zw>the-origin-a... (accessed on 18/10/18)

https://studytiger.com>APA (accessed on 20/10/18)

www.herald.co.zw(history of Zimbabwe) (accessed on 20/10/18)

CHRISTIAN COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

DIPLOMA IN JOURNALISM AND MEDIA STUDIES

INTENSIVE CLASS SEPTEMBER 2018

NAME: TAFADZWA DHLIWAYO

MODULE: NASS