Study History notes on Origins of the Mutapa State. Useful for revision, homework, and exam preparation in Zimbabwe.
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ORIGINS a. The salt expedition theory by S.Moyana and S.I.G Mudenge. b. The infiltration of the Dande Chidima region in the Northern plateau by D.N. Beach. c. The vanguishing of the states like Teve, Barwe,Guruuswa,Tonga,Dande etc by Mutota thereby earning the name 'Master of the ravaged land' which means Munhumutapa by T.O. Ranger and P.E.N. Tindal. d. Overpopulation at Great Zimbabwe and Mutota volunteered to leave by Ian Phimister. e. Mutapa state formed by army commander who left Great Zimbabwe (NOT MUTOTA) by Fage and D.N Beach. ORIGINS OF THE MUTAPA STATE. It is a matter of controversy amongst scholars. Various theories were put forward to tress where this state originated from. Nevertheless not withstanding the efforts of the scholars, this issue remains a thorn in the flesh. To start with, Moyana, S.I.G. Mudenge and S. Mukanya supports the salt expedition theory. The scholars suggest that the state was found around 1400 AD by Nyatsimba Mutota who was an heir to the Great Zimbabwe Kingdom. It is said that after a severe salt shortage at Great Zimbabwe, Nyatsimba was send by his father to look for areas where the state could look for salt. After leaving with a group of men, he is said to have scattered around the country until he reached the Northen Plateau near the moden day Mutare. Tired of the expedition Nyatsimba was reluctant to return to Great Zimbabwe, thus with the help of his companions he established the state by in-cooperating defeated states in the area, thus those three scholars agree that the Mutapa state was formed as a result of the search for salt. Although the suggestion can be accepted in explaining the origins of the Mutapa state, the theory suffers many weaknesses, the weaknesses brought about by D.N. Beach who bases his argument on the following reasons; 1. Nyatsimba Mutota was not the founder of the state, if he founded it he did it so to an already existing state. 2. The fact that it is said that he incooparated defeated states is refutable, Beach wonders how he could vanguish those states while he was accompanied by few man. 3. He argues that Shona Kings were highly respected and so were their sons. So how could a royal descended be send on a salt expedition. The arguments of Beach hold much water in refuting the credibility of the salt expedition theory. Nevertheless one wishes to highlight that those arguments of Beach are dressed with weaknesses, frevorous and far fetched. In reference to his first argument that …