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[NOV. 2003]

19. (a.)List three duties carried out by male members and three duties carried out by

Female members in the Rozvi society. [8]

(i.) MALE

 Hunting, herding cattle, mining, thatching huts, also cultivation, smelting,

trade, fishing. [3]

(ii.) FEMALE

 Crop cultivation, gathering, household chores, looking after children. [3]

(b.) Outline the economic and social way of life in the Rozvi state.
[11]

(i.) ECONOMIC

 Crop cultivation – finger millet, bulrush millet, sorghum, cow peas, maize,
rapoko.
 Pastoralism – cattle, a form of wealth – important for wealth and times of
drought.
 Mining – gold, iron, copper. Practiced opencast mining.
 Hunting – to get meat, enjoyed as a sport by men; ivory, skins.
 Trade – local and external trade with Portuguese. Use of vashambadzi. Ivory
and gold important trade items to obtain cloth, beads, sea shells, etc.
 Blacksmithing – an industry to produce tools and weapons such as knives,
razors, spears, arrow-heads.
 Weaving – cloth – craftwork
 Pottery by women and basketry by men
 Tribute collected by the army for Changamire
 Division of labour according to sex, age and skill.

(ii.) SOCIAL WAY OF LIFE

 Religion - believed in Mwari and the importance of ancestors and spiritual

beings.
 Shona priests – an important link in the society
 Believed spirit lived in Mountains, big pools of water, thick forests.
Witchcraft.
 Mafisa – system – a system of kuronzera people who did not own cattle
looked after other people’s cattle, and would be given some eventually.
 Marriage – roora paid. Polygamy practiced esp. by those who owned many
cattle, and blacksmiths.
 A patrilineal society i.e. relations traced through the masculine gender
 Ethnic dances on important occasions and as leisure e.g. religious ceremonies.

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(c.) Explain why this state declined. [8]

Reasons for decline

(i.) Internal factors – serious droughts, civil wars, economic decline, succession
disputes, disputes with Chikanga of Manyika, also Barwe chiefs

(ii.) External Factors – Nguni incursions and Portuguese invasions. Nguni groups
were Zwangendaba’s Ngoni; Nyamazana; the Ndebele; Nxaba and the Ngoni also briefly
invaded.

[Nov 2004]

20 [a].State any six economic activities of the Rozvi State.

 Crop cultivation –millet, sorghum

 Pastoralism-cattle, goats
 Trade-internal and external trade
 Hunting-for meat and animal skins
 Craftwork tool making/blacksmithing
 Payment of tribute
 Mining
 Fishing/gathering/raiding

[b].Describe the political organization of the Rozvi State. [11].

 Rozvi rulers known as Mambo or Changamire

 Mambo was overall in charge of the military ,religious and political power
 Position of Mambo was hereditary
 The power of the king rested mainly with the army
 Had advisors to assist –mainly priests and army commanders
 Provincial chiefs were in charge of provinces .The Mambo was in charge of their
installation. Also had hereditary positions
 Chiefs(ishe) were in charge of chiefdoms and were appointed by the Mambo
 Under the chiefs were headmen(sadunhu)
 Allegiance to the Mambo was done through payment of tribute .Tribute was collected
by the army.
 Religious leaders involved in the installation of the Mambo.
 Tumbare acted as regent after the death of Changamire.

NB: Mambo (king) Ishe (chief) Sadunhu(Headman)

[c].How far did political problems contribute to the collapse of the Rozvi State ?

[i]. Contribution to the fall:

 Rozvi state too big –hence poor communication

 Succession disputes
 Political divisions, Civil wars failure to fully incorporate some chiefdoms like
Kalanga ,(chiefdom rebellions)

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 Practice of Tumbare acting as a regent

[ii]Other factors for the collapse

 Successive droughts
 Decline of gold production
 Disruption of trade, especially by Portuguese
 Invasion of the State by Mfecane groups e,g Ndebele and Ngoni
 Depletion of resources

[Nov 2005]

21[a].Name any three Rozvi towns and any three Rozvi rulers up to the 18thcentury.

 Khami(Dlodlo); Naletale; Danangombe; Manyanga; Nhava YaTumbare

 Changamire Dombo; Changamire Rupanga Manhanga; Changamire Chirisamhuru ii

[b].Describe the political system and religious system of the Rozvi State up to the 19th
century.
[11]

 Rozvi political system-Rozvi Mambo- was head of state; and commander-in-chief

.Succession to the throne was hereditary and cultural
 On death of mambo- Tumbare (Rozvi general) acted as regent –till appointment of
new mambo.
 Provinces were under vassal chiefs installed by the Mambo or his representative
 Vassal Chiefs-paid tribute to Mambo as sign of loyalty; Tumbare (Rozvi general) was
responsible for collection of tribute.
 Sadunhu, Mambo’s senior wives and sons in-law were important officials of the
king’s court.
 Rozvi religion-the Rozvi worshiped the sky- God-Mwari- Creator of Mankind and all
creation ;Rozvi also believed in spirits-ancestral spirits regional and national spirits
called Mondoro
 Spirit mediums were go- between of the people and Mondoro- consulted in crises –
famine, war, drought
 Mambo believed to be a descendant of Mwari
 Was a religious leader

[c]. How important was the role of the army in the Rozvi political system? [8]

[i].Importance of the Army

 Used to conquer or raid neighbours for cattle ,extend territory

 Used to defend the state
 Army was also used to collect tribute –punish rebellious chiefs- failing to pay tribute

[ii].Other factors

 Most important element in the Rozvi state was religion-which united people
 Mambo was confirmed in office by spirit mediums

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 Mambo regarded as divine ruler

 Also important was the strong economy of the state based on agriculture, pastoralism,
trade
 Kuronzera united people
 Marriage alliances
[Nov 2007]

22[a].List any six government officials of the Rozvi State.

[6]

 Army commanders
 Provincial chiefs
 District chiefs
 Queen mother
 King ‘s sons- in-law
 Spirit mediums
 Tumbare
 Village heads
 King
 Sadunhu(Headman)
 Court counsellors

[b].Outline the social activities of the Rozvi State.

[11]

 Rozvi society was patrilineal

 Succession to the throne was through father’s line(patrilineal)
 Ownership of cattle was a status symbol and cattle were used to pay roora
 Wealth in cattle could be loaned some by the wealthier through the kuronzera system
or Mafisa system
 Division of labour was mainly based on gender
 The Rozvi worshiped creator God called Mwari, National spirits(Mondoros) and
family ancestral spirit mediums(Masvikiro)just like the shona of great Zimbabwe.
 Consulted ancestors in times of crisis
 Rozvi Mambo was chosen by spirit mediums and led at ritual ceremonies such as
rainmaking
 The Rozvi believed that spirits resided in mountains, large pools and thick forests
 There was widespread belief in witchcraft

[c].To what extent did social activities strengthened the Rozvi State? [8]

[i].Importance of social activities:

 Religion was unifying factor

 The Mambo was chosen by spirit mediums and led at ritual ceremonies
 Kuronzera system helped to reduce poverty and maintain influence over important
lineages and the poor
 Polygamy helped to establish ties and influence. It was also a source of labour and
soldiers. Some marriages were for political alliance to maintain peace

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 Since the Mambo had the highest number of cattle, he was the wealthiest and was
held in high esteem.
[ii].Other factors:
 Strong economy based on agriculture helped to maintain peace and stability
 Trade was a source of foreign goods and helped to strengthen the economy and
enrich the Mambo since he controlled trade
 Also payment of tribute –ensured loyalty to the Mambo and ensured that chiefs did
not become too rich and powerful.
 A strong army was also important for defence of the state and putting down
rebellions.

(Nov 2010)

23.(a).List any six responsibilities of the Rozvi ruler. (6)

 Distribution of land , Chief judge, Religious leader

 Chief administrator, Custodian of state property
 Installation of lesser chiefs, commander-in-chief of the army
 Receiving and sharing tribute
 Control of hunting activities, Concluding alliances
 Declaring war, Controlling trade, protecting citizens
 Controlling mining activities, receiving foreign visitors
 Presiding over the council.

(b).Describe the social organisation of the Rozvi state. (11)

 Built pole and dagga huts

 Lived in Homesteads-lived according to lineages
 Belonged to the Moyo totem
 Rozvi marriages were exogamous
 Practised polygamy and paid lobola in form of cattle and iron tools
 Ownership of cattle was a status symbol
 Practised ‘mafisa\kuronzera-cattle loaning to people without cattle
 Division of labour
 Patrilineal society
 Worshipped ‘Mwari’, the Supreme Being and Creator of everything on earth
 Believed in national or regional spirits(Mhondoros) and family ancestral spirit
mediums
 The king was the religious leader and led traditional ceremonies
 Brewed beer and slaughtered cattle at ceremonies called ‘Bira’ and held rain making
ceremonies
 Believed that larger pools, forests and mountains harboured spirits
 King communicated with Mwari on behalf of people
 Believed in life after death and witchcraft and nyangas.

(c).How important was social organisation in the political system of the Rozvi State? (8)

 Religion was a unifying force

 King was chosen by spirit mediums

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 King led traditional ceremonies

 Cattle loaning system helped to maintain influence and peace
 Polygamy used by ruling class to maintain alliances and important lineages

Other factors

 Tribute as a sign of loyalty

 Army for law and order, and suppressing rebellions
 A strong economy ensured stability

[June 2011]

24[a].Name any three ethnic groups and their respective leaders who fought the Rozvi
between 1800 and 1890 [6]

 Khumalo- Mziikazi
 Jere –Ngoni- Zwangendaba
 Ngoni- Nyamazana
 Shangane- Soshangane
 Msene-Ngoni- Nxaba

[b].Describe the duties of the Rozvi Mambo. [11]

 Controlled trade, Recived visitors.

 Commander in Chief of the Rozvi army
 Mambo was the head of state, distributed land
 Was the chief judge, selected provincial chiefs, district chiefs and sub-chiefs
 Received and handled reports from various parts of the kingdom
 Appointed the Council of Advisors, sanctioned ritual ceremonies
 Mambo was the religious leader, sent the army for raiding expeditions
 Received tribute from the chiefs, appointed army generals
 Worked hand in hand with religious leaders
 Had power to relieve his appointees of their duties
 Duty to defend the state from enemy attacks
 Had custody over captives
 Distributed food in times of drought, declared wars, signed treaties, and distributed
looty.

[c].Was the Mambo’s leadership to blame for the decline of the Rozvi kingdom?
Explain your answer. [8]

Mambo’s weaknesses

 Other leaders were less charismatic than Dombo Changamire

 Appointed incompetent subordinates
 Appointments of officials were on a kinship basis
 Failed to rule the vast empire as well as failure to repel Nguni incursions.
 Failed to properly de-centralise his political powers
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Other factors
 Succession disputes /collateral system of succession
 Serious droughts, Civil wars
 Economic decline e,g mining, trade
 Disputes with Chikanga and Barwe chiefs
 Nguni incursions e,gMzilikazi’s Ndebele, Zwangendaba’s Ngoni and Nyamazana’s
Ngoni.
 Clashes with the Portuguese left the Rozvi state weakened
 Break away, Tumbare became too powerful, Hiya effects.