The Mangwende Dynasty
Mangwende is a dynasty from Southern Africa, Zimbabwe commonly known as Mangwende dynasty of Nhowe or Mangwende of Nhowe. It is the royal dynasty of the Nhowe people, who are a part of the Shona tribe now living in Murewa, Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe. The Mangwende dynasty was started by the patriarch of the Nhowe people, Sakubvunza in 1606 who established the Shona traditional state of Nhowe. The name Nhowe refers to the traditional state as well as the Nhowe people.
The Mangwende Chieftainship employs a system of collateral succession which alternates between two houses of the dynasty. The two houses of Chieftain lineage are Mhotani ( Bokoto ) and Hundungu ( Chitopi ) houses. The earliest use of the name Mangwende is in 1859, by Hundungu who ruled as Chief from 1859-1878. Hundungu is the first person to assume the ruling title “Mangwende” with proper investiture from the Rozvi, the traditional council. Prior to this, there was no common name in reference to the chiefainship, and previous Chiefs used family names in respect to the clan, "Nhowe".
The totem of the Mangwende clan is “moyo mzukuru” which uses the bull as its symbolic animal. However, in practice, the tribe strictly holds only the heart of the animal as sacred, not the whole animal.
Mangwende dynasty, formerly in Matandandura and Matukutu, settles in Nhowe. The chieftainship changes hands between the two lineages on the death of the sitting Chief (unless the authorities deems otherwise).
| # | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sakubvunza | 1606-1631 Gatsi | 1633-1656 Mushawatu | 1657-1681 Dembetembe | 1681-1706 Mhonyera | 1707-1731 Nhuta | 1732-1756 Zemura | 1757-1781 Rota | 1783-1831 Mhotani | 1833-1857 |
| 2 | Hundungu | 1859-1878 |
| 3 | Katerere | 1878-1879 |
| 4 | Mungate | 1880-1924 |
| 5 | Chibanda | 1926-1936 |
| 6 | Munhuwepayi | 1937-1960 |
| 7 | Enoch | 1960-1968 |
| 8 | Chibanda | 1969-2013 |
Mhotani ( Bokoto ) and Hundungu ( Chitopi ) are the highest ranking names in modern day history of Nhowe politics as they represent both Chieftainship (lineages) of Mungate1(Mushawatu) and Gatsi1. Tne names Bokoto and Chitopi houses are purely for administrative purposes. It should be noted the two lineages lived in close proximity for over (3) three centuries at Mahopo Chitopi Nyakambiri river near Marondera.
The Mangwende clan dominated the geographical area between Makoni and Mutoko in Mashonaland East, Zimbabawe, which then existed in the political format of traditional states. Mangwende had a fighting force that fought rival clans, and was often called to defend allies in battle. Within their territory, the Mangwende chieftainship had several sub-Chiefs of surrounding clans under their protectorate who would pledge allegiance to Chief Mangwende in return for military support if attacked by other rival Chiefs. As the paramount chief, Mangwende administered over the welfare, security and civil order of small chieftainship clans and presided in ceremonial duties.
The house of Hundungu who was chief from 1859-1878 and was the first to assume the title of Chief Mangwende with proper Rozvi investiture. Prior to this period all Chiefs (Mambos) were called or known by their family names. It was about this time that there was a bit of animosity between the two chieftain lineages as it was alleged that the other lineage had attacked the other with a flock of bees from a charm (Gona). Katerere, father to Chiroodza and Chibanda, ruled for one year 1878-1879 and died and was replaced by Mungate son of Hundungu who became Chief from 1880-1924. He was chief at the time when the white settlers arrived in Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia. They were based at Mahopo Masekwa bordering Marondera. The totem is "Moyo Muzukuru", which belongs to entire Nhowe tribe. Most of the late Mangwende chiefs are buried at the Mangwende shrine in Mahopo Masekwa. Over a period of time the Bokoto house decided to bury their chiefs at an Area called Bokoto in Mukarakate, before that they were all buried at Mahopo Masekwa. Only (3) three chiefs were not buried at the Mangwende Shrine Maseekwa Mahopo being Katerere, Enoch and Chibanda 11 (two)
White colonialists arrived around the period of 1890 disguised as hunters and missionaries and settled in the territory controlled by Chief Mungate Mangwende. At about 1896, Chief Mangwende fought white settlers who tried to impose on his territory in the famous battles that became known as the 1896 rebellion. He led his forces to defend Makoni who had also been invlolved in resisting white settlement rule. Chief Mungate Mangwende's oldest son, Muchemwa, through orders from his father the chief fought the colonialist white settlers in the 1896 with the (uprising) in conjunction with Mbuya Nehanda and Kaguwi. After Chief Mungate Mangwende made peace with the White settlers (authorities) in 1896 his son Muchemwa together with other members of Nhowe war council continued to wedge a guerilla type of war as they were disgruntled with white settler rule. This war continued up to 1903 and ended in the fierce battle of Bokoto hills, which lasted several weeks. Muchemwa brokered a deal with the White Settlers (authorities) that he could only lay down his arms together with his lieutenants on condition he did not face any prosecution. The authorities agreed on one condition that he resided next to Murewa District Headquarters where he would be monitored. After the rebellion the white settlers took over the fertile land in Mahopo Masekwa and Chief Mungate was moved to a place called Rota, Chamachinda.
The village around the Murewa District Centre is known as the Mangwende Village, with most of its inhabitants being of Nhowe tribe Totem "Moyo Muzukuru". At the time of Muchemwa's death in 1909 (murdered), his father was still on the throne but he left three sons, Mbumbira, Munhuwepayi, and Maiziveyi. His second son, Munhuwepayi, became a chief at the Mangwende Village and the entire Murewa area. He ruled from 1937-1960 and was deposed from the chieftainship for continually disagreeing and criticizing white settlers administration decisions which was deemed to be gross insubordination. Another contributing factor was for participating in politics in the late 1950s 60s up until independence 1980, in NDP and then ZAPU (Zimbabwe African Peoples Union) which merged with ZANU PF (Zimbabwe African National Union) in 1987 into one party called Zimbabwe African National Union ZANU PF. Once dethroned he was sent to detention at Gonakudzingwa Restriction Camp, (Gonakudzingwa meaning "where the banished ones sleep") in Southern Rhodesia, near the Mozambique border, which was a special detention for ZAPU political prisoners set up by Ian Smith's government. On his release he was banished from staying or visiting Murewa and restricted to 25 km (16 mi)radius of Salisbury, now Harare. Even when his relations died he was not allowed to attend the funerals among them his own children and young brother, Maiziveyi Mangwende who died in 1971. He later died in November 1988 and was buried at the Mangwende shrine at Mahopo Maseekwa near Marondera. It was his brother Maziveyi four sons Innocent, Cyril, Alois and Godfrey who performed the traditional rites for Chief Munhuwepayi to be buried at the Mangwende Shrine as they were the direct and immediate descendants of Muchemwa lineage.