Ziwa: Eastern Highlands’ treasure trove
NESTLED on the lowlands of the northern part of the Eastern Highlands is the Ziwa National Monument, located 25km north west of Nyanga.
Ziwa, which is an archaeological agricultural landscape, was declared a national monument on May 3, 1946.
It is one of Zimbabwe’s unique tourism treasure troves, with pristine never ending beauty.
The key elements of the cultural landscape comprise stone terraces, enclosures, pits and forts covering 3 337 hectares.
It is believed to have been constructed between the 17th and 18th century.
The terraces are the most obvious and outstanding feature of the agricultural landscape and are a representative sample of a few areas in Africa, where extensive fossil landscapes of past human activities survive in a more or less articulated seamless manner.
The site has of late attracted scores of tourists from Zimbabwe and beyond.
Efforts are being made by the Department of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe to have it listed on the prestigious World Heritage List.
Ziwa portrays past generations’ way of living.
Other prominent landscapes of its nature are at Engaruka in Tanzania, the Highlands in Ethiopia, the Sukur terraces in Nigeria and the cultural landscapes of the Serra de Tramuntana in Spain.
Ziwa is, however, outstanding due to its pit structures.
In 1905, the monument was named Van Nierkerk Ruins after Major Pompey van Niekerk guided Dr Randall-MacIver in inspecting the monument.
The name was subsequently changed to Ziwa.
“The name Ziwa is derived from the local Manyika dialect, meaning ‘know’,” said National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe Eastern regional marketing officer, Lloyd Makonya.
“It is believed Ziwa was occupied by three tribes-e the Bantu, the Tonga and the Saunyama people, with the Saunyama being the most influential. The Saunyama are believed to have started constructing permanent structures there.
“They even established their culture in the area and it is still being practiced in the communities surrounding Ziwa,” Makonya explained. “In terms of design and material workmanship, Ziwa meets the test of authenticity. Its distinctive components have had no reconstructions.
“In addition to and closely related with the terrace system, there are hundreds of stoned-lined pit structures in stone enclosures.
“Ethnographic evidence suggests that the pits were used to kraal a small hornless breed of cattle and sheep or goats. Most of the enclosures have extensive housing debris consisting of circular raised platforms that are remnants of grain storage huts and stone outlines of houses.
“Other interesting features of the agricultural landscape include some stone lined passages linking enclosures, clearance cairns, iron processing furnaces, defensive forts and grinding places on rock outcrops, which can be an amazing adventure maze for any tourist,” said Makonya.
To add on to the cultural landscape, Ziwa also has a rich natural environment ideal for those who love camping and site seeing. The imposing Ziwa and sacred Hamba mountains are the monuments’ major landmarks and form an exquisite series of high and low inselbergs and wooded hills, with diverse flora and fauna.
The rolling indigenous woodlands are a haven of infinitely varied wildlife species, while the refreshing waters of the Nyan’ombe River offer a natural swimming pool.
The mountainous area receives high rainfall, thereby supporting farming activities.
Ziwa is therefore a picturesque archaeological and agricultural monument in the Eastern Highlands.