Chronicle Editor
Obert Dube
THE BaTonga are mostly found along the Kasambabezi (Zambezi) River in Binga (Zimbabwe), Malawi and in Zambia.
The Zambezi River’s original Tonga name is Kasambabezi meaning “only those familiar with the river could bathe in it due to dangers associated with the river .”
Binga is from the word “kubinga” meaning “escorting livestock.” Tonga means “ruling” which meant that the BaTonga were an egalitarian society. This means a classless society where there is no single ruler like Ndebele, Zulu, Nambya or Shona Iron Age kings.
The Tonga society was under the tutelage of Kingdoms.
Tonga people are very humble, respectful and non-violent.
They are not attention-seekers. Tonga women are very loyal to their husbands. If in a polygamous marriage, the lady provides everything for the man.
They call their chief “BaSimwami” and when greeting their chief, they kneel down.
The BaTonga build tall (double-storey) wooden houses called “ingazi”.
Little has been said about the BaTonga although they have done much from politics to sports and academics.
The Tonga language became one of the country’s official languages in 2013.
There is a dangerous wide off mark misconception that Tonga people are not educated yet they are very educated but do not show off.
During the tenure of the Government of National Unity, the chief advisor to the Minister of Education, Sports Art and Culture David Coltart was pure Tonga, Dominic Muntanga.
The current Zambian President His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, affectionately known as Bally is pure Tonga.
The first three brothers to play for the Zimbabwe national football team were the Ndlovu brothers. Peter “Nsukuzonke” Ndlovu, (also) nicknamed “The Flying Elephant”, Adam “Adamski” Ndlovu (late) and Madinda “Khathazile” Ndlovu who are from Binga and proudly Tonga.
Peter Ndlovu, the first African player to play in the English Premier League and scored a hat-trick at Anfield versus Liverpool was also former national team captain and is now the manager at Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.
Hurungwe District (in Mashonaland West Province) was also occupied by the BaTonga.
Passing near Karoi is a river called Mwami.
There’s a village called Makande, Zvipani, Fuleche and many more.
In Chirundu there are hot springs which have often been referred to as “meendayatsve” yet it’s “meendapya.”
Mutare was previously known as City of Umtali.
Mutale/Intale means “crocodile.”
Butale means “metal” in Tonga.
Mberengwa has strong Tonga links. The Tonga people also lived in Bhelingwe/Umbele Wengwe now called Mberengwa .
This can be proven by the fact that there are places such as Msume Mission, Mweembe Primary School, Mweembe Business Centre and Mweembe Mountain. These names are not Shona/Karanga/Ndebele/Remba but pure Tonga.
Moreover, near Msume Mission is “dziva revaTonga,” a “river that doesn’t run dry.”
Kariba District is in Mashonaland West and Kariba’s Tonga name is Kaliba, a trap.
The BaTonga used various tactics to cross flooded rivers.
Chirundu is a Tonga name originally taken from ”Chilundu” meaning a “mountain.” A small mountain is called “kalundu” in Tonga.
“Lupane” is a Tonga name originally from the word “Tupane” meaning “let’s share.”
Nkayi is believed to be a Tonga name (uyinkayi/Kayi). There are so many places in Nkayi that have names linked to the Tonga language eg Gonye, Nesigwe, Zenka, Sesemba, Nkuba, Singwangombe etc.
According to oral tradition, Tsholotsho in Skente has Tonga people. The Skente family is rumoured to be Tonga.
Gokwe has Marirangwe, Binga has Kariangwe and Plumtree has Bililima- Mangwe. Same word, pure Tonga, but wrongly pronounced.
Hence Tonga may extend to Plumtree which is in Matabeleland South.
Gokwe is a Tonga word, which is originally “Goko” meaning “evening.” Gokwe (South) is in Midlands province and it’s a district close to Lupane District and BaTonga are mostly found there even up to date eg Musala, Lutotshani, Chebechebe in Mazinyo area.
The village heads are pure Tonga; Lukukwe, Mbungu, Marimasimbe, Manoti. There is a river called Lutope where there are BaShangwe people who are not Tonga.
There are Tonga chiefs in Gokwe South, Chief Mukoka and Chief Musala. There is a place called Marimasimbe under Chief Jiri. It’s original name was “Balibasimbi” meaning “girls.” Three girls fell into a river and died. They said “Balibasimbi” but the Shona people are said to have failed to pronounce the word and called it “Marimasimbe”.
Politically, the first chairman of the Binga Rural District Council and first MP, former Zapu political commissar was Sikajaya Muntanga.
The current Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda is originally from the BaTonga tribe.
Former Minister of Public Works Joel Gabbuza is from Binga.
BaTonga people were peasant farmers, fishers and hunters hence they liked to live on river banks where they could simultaneously fish and hunt.
Tonga names and places mostly start with “Sia” (pronounced as Siya).
eg Siamanungu, Siansali, Sianchali, Siansundu, Siabhuwa.
We say “Sia” is a masculine title short for father of (“Wisi wa”) in Tonga.
Sia is mostly in reference of places and men. Like the Dutch who are popularly know with Van eg Van Persie,Van der Vaart.
Their surnames are of animals and birds.
In Tonga, Mudenda (Dube), Munkombwe (Nyathi), Mutale (Ngwenya/Ngwena), Mumpande just to name a few.
Due to enduring identity, the BaTonga have an anthem which is sung during ceremonies in Binga. The anthem is pregnant with meaning which explains the history and passes a message of lament on how they lost everything when they were stripped through forced dislocation by the Federal regime in the late 1950s.
The BaTonga were diplaced heavily during the building of the Kariba Dam.
They are found in provinces such as Midlands, Matabeleland North and Mashonaland West.
The BaTonga people have their own natural homemade necklaces, earings and their noses are well-decorated naturally.
They have interesting events called Mapwaila.
Elderly female smoke not cigarettes but “Ndombonda/inchelwa”.
They have their own unique dances — Ingoma buntibe, Ciilimba, Mpande and Malende.
BaTonga people mostly practice culture and you can still find a Tonga man with 10 wives.
Tonga women are extremely respectful.They treat their husbands like kings.
This is how the BaTonga praise their beloved Binga;
Kumanzi atontola
Kumpongo zyota mulilo
Madada awuma chikokocha
Kukasambabezi
l Obert Dube is a poet, author, motivational speaker, MC and researcher.
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