HomeOld_PostsUnsung heroes of the First Chimurenga: Part Two

Unsung heroes of the First Chimurenga: Part Two

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CHIKONAMOMBE was happy my last piece on unsung heroes of the First Chimurenga mentioned his beloved Maromo dynasty in the same breath with the legendary Mashayamombe.
He then insisted that I say more about the First Chimurenga in Chikomba.
He says facts are stubborn and will show that there is no Chief Maromo today in Chikomba is largely due to the gallantry of the Maromo clan during the First Chimurenga.
Chieftainships that were submissive to BSA Company rule or fought on the side of the company regime were rewarded with plum chieftainships.
Clearly Chikonamombe was throwing me to the deep end of a controversy that would not endear me well with a number of Chikomba dynasties.
The First Chimurenga broke out in Matabeleland on March 24 1896, a week earlier than had been advised by Mwari priests.
Over 2 000 Ndebele soldiers took to war and within a week over 141 settlers had been killed and homes, ranches and mines destroyed.
Mwari priests promised that if the Ndebele went to war, the bullets of the settlers would change to water and their cannon shells would become eggs.
In Mashonaland, the First Chimurenga broke out on June 17 1896 at Mazowe with an attack by the Hwata dynasty on Alice Mine.
This was followed by the medium Mbuya Nehanda capturing and executing Mazowe Native Commissioner Pollard.
Other religious figures who led the rebellion included Kaguvi, who was active in the Goromonzi and Mhondoro areas, Bhonda in Somabula and Chikomba areas and Mukwati, a Mwari priest, who was active throughout Mashonaland.
In addition to the mediums, traditional leaders played a major role in the rebellion, notably Chiefs Chinengundu Mashayamombe, Chingaira Makoni and Mangwende’s son Muchemwa as discussed in the last installment.
The heroics of these gentlemen helped inspire other chiefs like Mutekedza and Maromo in Chikomba, Gwabayana, Mapondera and Seke.
In South Mashonaland, in particular Chikomba, whites never expected the Shona to take up arms.
They considered them law abiding and unlikely to join a Ndebele war.
When ‘Mrs Grant’, black wife of a Manhize farmer, passed on intelligence about a planned June uprising no one took her seriously.
Weeks later, she entered Fort Charter reporting the killing of her husband, children and other whites in the Manhize area.
Around the same time whites were attacked in Belingwe (Mberengwa) and sent for reinforcements of ‘Victoria natives’ in Fort Victoria (Masvingo).
Here they received news that a bloody revolt had broken out in Charter (Chikomba).
The First Chimurenga experienced some of its bloodiest battles in Chikomba. According to one account Cecil John Rhodes and his party of 40 almost perished near Chigara during the uprisings.
Rhodes and company got lost and spent part of the night near the Chigara hills which had become the centre of Matonjeni inspired resistance.
Rhodes and company were rescued by a police patrol just after midnight on the fateful day.
Shocked by this close shave, a BSA Company impi was dispatched next morning to lay siege on Chigara until the latter fell.
These events were witnessed by Rhodes.
The First Chimurenga in Chikomba is best remembered around four individuals; Bhonda, Sango, Maromo and Mutekedza.
Mutekedza and Maromo were chiefs, Bhonda was a Mwari priest and Sango was a headman and spiritual figure.
A fifth influential name came from outside the district; this was of Chief Mashayamombe from the neighbouring Mhondoro and whose exploits we have previously discussed.
Bhonda arrived in Chikomba around the time that the uprising broke out in the district.
Debate is inconclusive on who he was.
Some accounts say he was Ndebele while others say he was a Rozvi.
What is undisputed is that he arrived in Chikomba from Somabula and brought with him news of the uprising in Matabeleland.
He gave spiritual education on the war and instructions from Mwari vaMatonjeni. Bhonda sought to recruit warriors from all Chikomba chiefs.
Many refused except for Gambiza, Mutekedza and Maromo.
Bhonda also found an ally in a Rozvi headman, Sango.
Bhonda’s most trusted comrades were Sango and Mutangadura, a son of Mutekedza.
Sango was a son of Gwangwava of the Musarurwa line of the Rozvi.
He was in charge of a Rozvi village at Chigara.
Chigara was already an important Mwari shrine in Chikomba.
Bhonda was hosted by Sango and operated from these hills.
While most Rozvi in Chikomba became collaborators for the whites, many joining whites in the fight at Somabula, Sango went against the grain.
He ended up commanding the famous Chigara stand.
Mutekedza was chief of the vaHera people.
Bhonda managed to influence and incite Mutekedza to rise against the settlers. This was made possible partly through the influence of a spiritualist, Mutangadura (son of Mutekedza).
The Hera people, like most Africans of this time also had serious grievances against settler rule and were also inspired by the Mashayamombe resistance. Mutekedza was eventually captured at Makoshori, bringing to an end a gallant resistance.
Maromo was chief of the Maromo people, cousins of Mashayamombe people. They were chiefly inspired by the gallantly fight put up by the Mashayamombe. When the Maromo resistance was eventually brought down their chief escaped to Mashayamombe.
Hokonya, who had refused to join the uprising, became Chief Maromo, as reward for selling out.
And fearing that eventually a revolutionary Maromo would return to the throne in future the chieftainship was abolished by the settler regime in 1951.
Once Sango, Mutekedza and Maromo resistances were put down at battles of Chigara, Gona, Kuiparima and Zave the First Chimurenga ended in Chikomba. Sadly today the gallantry Maromo chieftainship is still banned.
In Chivhu you have streets named after Rhodes and his Boer brotherhood, but nothing to remember Mutangadura Mutekedza, Bonda or Sango.
Chigara is a deserted hill.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Where was Chiwashira during that time and what role did he play? What about chief Nyoka, Neshangwe and others what role did they play during this war. Ko hondo ye chindunduma yakarwirwa papi

  2. The chikonamombe people seem to have been pivotal in the first Chimurenga, unfortunately, we have nothing to remind us of the people and their contribution to the liberation struggle. It would have been good if the can have a collection of the first chimurenga heroes and their stories. This will help young generations to understand where we have come from and what our people had to endure for us to be free. I think it will be good to have first chimurenga history book with detailed accounts of what transpired during that time then we have a second chimurenga and third leading to where we are now.

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