The ‘Shangwe’ People of Zimbabwe

Mzala Tom
The Shangwe people are predominantly found in Gokwe in the northern Zimbabwe plateau. Like the Tonga, they deeply identify themselves with the Zambezi valley.

The Shangwe are believed to be descendants of the Mbire-Korekore group and the Hungwe who migrated into the Zambezi Valley at various time intervals from the beginning of the 15th century.

The Shangwe and the Tonga lived side by side in the Zambezi valley for centuries and as such they share language and cultural heritage.

Some of the Shangwe entered the Zambezi valley as refugees from the Nguni battles and displacements during the 19th century. When they penetrated the Zambezi valley, they were absorbed by the valley Tonga except in the lower river region, of Musampakaruma.

Some of the Shangwe are descendants of various Mbire groups that later migrated to the northern Zimbabwe plateau in the early 20th century, running away from the expansion of the colonial settler regime.

To the indigenous people of Gokwe, the term Shangwe describes frequent droughts and famines that often devastated that area in the pre-colonial period. The term Shangwe is more about a drought stricken place than to an ethnic group.

The Tonga identify themselves with the river — as the Lwizi people whereas the Shangwe identify themselves with the Valley as the Goba people.

Before present day Gokwe areas became part of Ndebele tributary state, the Shangwe were led by Nyamusasa. They were attacked and conquered by Chireya, a Karanga-Rozvi warrior who incorporated them in his chiefdom. Chireya later voluntarily became an ally of the Ndebele.

King Mzilikazi then established a big military settlement in Chireya’s territory in present day Gokwe. The regiment was known as Inyoka or Enyokeni. This regiment was established in chief Nemangwe’s area.

Nemangwe was a subject of Chireya. Chireya reported directly to the chief of eNqotsheni. ENqotsheni was initially under Mazwi kaMdlankunzi Gumede and later became under Mphoko Mthini Ndlovu.

In the process, many Shangwe, Tonga and Karanga became part of the Ndebele tributary state. New Ndebele communities emerged and settled amongst them. This explains why Gokwe is a melting pot of people of Tonga, Shangwe, Karanga and Ndebele heritage.

Inyoka or Enyokeni regiment had large tobacco farms run by the Shangwe. They traded the tobacco with different people groups in exchange for grain and important metal objects. A portion of the harvests were paid as tribute to Chief Chireya and the Ndebele kings.