1] WITH REFERENCE TO IRON THESE STATES.

(25)AGE STATES OF ZIMBABWE

The existence of four major pre-colonial states like Mutapa State which was formed around
1400A.D under Nyatsimba Mutota , Rozvi, Great Zimbabwe (1200-1450 A.D) and Ndebele
State highly characterized pre-colonial history of Zimbabwe. The contemporary Zimbabwean
learnt some lessons from pre-colonial states like political, social, economic activities practiced in
these four pre colonial states.

Economically, mining was practiced in all of these pre-colonial stated. In the Iron Age period
Gold was a vital mineral used for trade on Great Zimbabwe state .Gold mining was practiced in
different areas of the regions and some of the gold sites are still the major gold deposits. Mining
was practiced by males in the Iron Age period while females looked after children and this is a
clear indication that there was specialization and division of labor in the Iron Age period. In
specialization the men who mined gold where not the same people how will process it .The
existence of entrepreneurship in the great Zimbabwe state whereby the people of great
Zimbabwe were able to do their own thing like iron smelting .Mining was practiced during the
dry season when the mines where not filled with water.

However contemporary Zimbabweans practiced mining and different minerals such like gold,
silver, diamonds are mined using different and sophisticated machines like excavators,
caterpillars and bulldozers to drill and remove the overburden. Contemporary Zimbabweans
identify the benefits of specialization which was practiced in the iron age states and they adopt
specialization for instance in Chiadzwa diamond mining company there is specialization where
by caterpillar operators dog the ground and carry the ores .Processing of these ores are done by
other group in the industry and weighing is also practiced by others . Different minerals are
mined in different places like diamond is mined in Chiadzwa mining fields and Dorowa mines
where asbestos is mined in Mashonaland East province. This clearly indicates that contemporary
Zimbabweans learnt a lesson of the importance e of the minerals and they are still discovering
different mineral deposits. Entrepreneurship still existing which was leant from pre colonial
states this is evidence by the provision of land reform practiced after independence to encourage
entrepreneurs a room for Zimbabweans to explore changes.
Agriculture was an important and vivid activity practiced in pre-colonial states like the Ndebele
and Rozvi states and it was the backbone of the great Zimbabwe economy which exists between
1200-1450 A.D. Rapoko, sorghum, millet and maize are crops which where cultivated by these
states being evidenced by the Great Zimbabwe State where archaeologists found grain of
sorghum and millet and stone paintings which suggest a farming was an important economic
activity which was practiced on that time. However contemporary Zimbabweans adopted the
methods of cultivation which was practiced by Great Zimbabwe people and the Rozvi State.
Different crops are cultivated like Soya beans and maize which was introduced by the
Portuguese on the Mutapa State. Cultivation nowadays day is a little bit advanced because of the
improvements in the methods and equipment used in Agriculture like tractors, combine
harvesters and fertilizers. Also the use of botanical gardens and greenhouses were introduced to
improve agriculture as contemporary Zimbabweans leant about the importance’s of
agriculture.100persent total empowerment and land reform programs were done to by our
president Robert Gabriel to promote agriculture which was once practiced by pre colonial states
and the establishment of efficient tools for agriculture like spike toothed harrow which is an
advancement in the tools used in pre-colonial states

Tribute payment was also practiced in the pre-colonial states like the Rozvi state whereby the
king was given gold, grains, meat as a sign of showing loyalty to the leader. Also vassal rulers
collected their token from their community and forward it to the king. However tribute payment
is still practiced and will continue to be done as it is the culture of Zimbabweans. Tribute
payment is still practiced but it is paid in form of money as tax to the government Tribute
payment is done to the chief whereby he is given grain and hoes as a sign of respect and is
normally done in rural area this is done to shoo respect to the leader. This is an indication that
contemporary Zimbabweans learnt a lesson of showing respect to the chief by paying tribute.

In all pre-colonial states cattle and livestock was greatly practiced in these states and cattle, goats
where the animals they used to keep. These animals where used for different purposes like cattle
where used for meat on ritual ceremonies. It was also used for lobola payment as a bride price in
the Ndebele, great Zimbabwe and Rozvi states. Cattle where used for milk and provision of
animal skins. This was evidenced by archaeologists who did their research at Great Zimbabwe
state and Mutapa State where they found cattle and tooth and bones.
However, contemporary Zimbabweans especially in rural areas around Zimbabwe still practice
cattle herding and they use their livestock for meat to eat and milk. More so contemporary
Zimbabweans learnt a lesson for the importance of cattle heading as they use them in our day to
day field operation together with machines. The skin is also used for shoes and cloth making
hence they have learnt a lesson from pre-colonial states.

Iron tools were also made by blacksmith in the Great Zimbabwe State whereby the craftsmen
made tools like hoes, arrows and spears which were used for hunting animals like elephants in
these states and hoes where used for digging arable lands for cultivation. Pottery was made with
thick clay or pale yellow colored soil and baskets waiving were also manufactured which were
used for carrying their loot.

Iron tools and pottery where discovered by archaeologists that shows that pottery making was
practiced by full time workers and they where women dominating that industry. Hence
contemporary Zimbabweans leant the importance of pottery especially in rural areas as they
adopt to still make use of its importance. In the urban industry pottery is practiced butt the design
and shapes will be a little bit more beautiful due to the machines now used in manufacturing of
pottery but the concept of pottery manufacturing is the same.

In the political organization of the pre-colonial states especially the Mutapa and Rozvi state, the
army was organized into different groups and each group was headed by a commander and the
army was used to maintain peace and order on these states. Chieftaincy was collateral, from the
father to the first born child, and if he was to die, the chieftaincy was awarded the second born
son. Mutapa and Rozvi states used tools like bows; arrow and spears in battle like the Rozvi
drove the Portuguese operating in the Mutapa state.

However contemporary Zimbabweans learnt a lot during the Iron Age periods as they copy that
the president is the commander in chief holding the highest military rank. Presidents also believe
that to have many soldiers determine the power of the Zimbabwe and the president is chosen by
conducting elections as what was did to put President ROBERT Mugabe in power. The solder
are used to maintain peace and order of the in the Zimbabwean country ruled by his excellence
president Robert Gabriel Mugabe having thousands of solder. Tools or machines like guns,
tankers and bombs are used to fight on battles and they form some alliance systems like what
Zimbabwe did by helping Mozambique as well as helping DRC with solders in teams of need.

The kings of all the four states for instance Great Zimbabwe, Rozvi, Ndebele and Mutapa states
where called Mambo and they ruled being supported by the advisory council called a dare. The
final judgment was approved by the Mambo. In the Great Zimbabwe state the king lived at the
center of the Great Zimbabwe being surrounded by his subjects’ huts. Contemporary
Zimbabweans also copy the same style of living whereby the chief resides at the center of the
village. This can also be linked to the way in which the President of Zimbabwe holds the power
of the top rank of the country whilst being helped by members of parliament who then are the
contemporary dare.

In the social structure in the Great Zimbabwe state, they believed in God called Mwari whom
they prayed to through spirit mediums and they believed that spirit mediums would speak to their
god on their behalf. They practiced ceremonies like mukwerera , where by the people sacrificed
cattle’s and goats to appease their ancestors. In the Ndebele state God was given the name
unkulunkulu. The king and his advisory team where used to give judgments to crimes committed
by his people. Lobola payment was practiced in the Iron Age states by using cattle and goats as
the bride price. However contemporary Zimbabweans also adopted the same Mwari whom their
forefathers worshiped. This is still ongoing in the activities of mukwerera whereby the villagers
brew beer and slaughter their cattle to honor their ancestral spirits as they dance and sing songs.
In urban settlements they are many churches like Anglican, Zioga and Christ Embassy were
established for the people to gather and praise GOD. Contemporary Zimbabweans leant what
should be done to people who commit crimes and they create courts which perform the same
function as what advisory chancel did in the Iron Age period. This is a clear indication that
contemporary Zimbabweans learnt a lesson on the social activities practiced by the pre colonial
states. Also gender equality was established to give women room to explore opportunities which
are done by men. Lobola payment is still practiced now days which is was leant from pre-
colonial state but cash payment is done together with goats and cattle’s.

The king in Great Zimbabwe state together with his advisory council lived in the enclosed hills
that are the enclosure of Great Zimbabwe and the great enclosure was surrounded by many huts
and their homesteads which were built of mud and grass for security reasons. However In our
modern day the president lives in what is called the state house which is fortified and secured by
state security, and in rural areas the mambo or ishe lives in his region with his advisory council
and machinda encompassing him indicating that contemporary Zimbabweans learnt from the
pre-colonial states on hoe to safeguard the state leader.

Different languages in different Iron Age states where spoken e.g. in Great Zimbabwe, they
spoke in shone whilst the Ndebele grossly spoke Ndebele. The Ndebele state was categorized
into three social groups according to the nativity of each tribe for instance the abezansi were said
to be the high superior aristocracy. The abenhla where incorporated groups of Swazi and Sotho
being conquered during the Ndebele migration from the south, while the hole where those found
and captured in the now native Zimbabwe, they were grossly shone speaking people who had
been seized by the Ndebele during battle. Contemporary Zimbabweans learnt a lesson of
identifying the language to use in our days like shone and Ndebele language. People are treated
the same regardless of the language one chooses to speak.

However contemporary Zimbabweans also learnt other lessons during the Iron Age states
although they were not taken into consideration like hunting which was practiced in Iron Age
states. Men were responsible for hunting and they hunted animals like elephant for them to
obtain ivory and animal skins which they used for trade and ivory was also used by entrepreneurs
to manufacture beads from ivory. They used tools like bows and arrows to hunt these animals.
Fishing was also practiced in Iron Age states whereby they us animal bones and hock worms to
catch fish in rivers. In our days, contemporary Zimbabweans also learnt how to effectively hunt
animals using bows and arrows of highly advanced technologies. Guns and chemicals are also
used for hunting animal like springbok and buffalo in [Link] was also copied from the
activity practiced in the pre-colonial stated ,it is a little beat advanced due to technology where
people can use water guns and standardized nets to catch fish .

Long distance trade was also practiced in the Mutapa and great Zimbabwe states where the states
would trade gold for clothing and beads as well as guns with exotic grain and clothes. They also
traded both locally and regionally with visiting Arabs and Portuguese. Butter trade was practiced
in pre-colonial states because there was no money to exchange a good with a paper script and
that trade was unfair to the pre-colonial states as they exchange high valued goods like gold and
cattle’s in return of inferior product like beats and clothing

Trade of goods indicated that no any nation is endowed with all factors of production so they had
to trade to quench the deficit by trading for goods they are in need e.g. trading of resources such
as ivory and for cloths and exotic pottery at great Zimbabwe. Even in our days, trade is practiced
both regionally and internationally to create good relations with other countries as contemporary
Zimbabweans learnt that no any nation is endowed withal factors of production e.g. Mozambique
and Zimbabwe are involved in intimate trade e.g. agricultural produce from Zimbabwe and oil
from Mozambique. Trade now days is practiced fairly were by people can exchange good with
its exact amount of money.

Contemporary Zimbabweans learnt a lot on pre colonial states.

Reference

-Southern African Heritage (2009) by T.G Maponda and [Link]

-S. Mukanya

-Practice-Hall of India (PHL) 1992

-S. I. G Mudenge

-Step ahead history by S. Mavura , K . Nyamhanda