About the Author

I born in a village called Chikowore under the Chief Musana (Mukuwapasi, Madyirapazhe) in the district of Bindura. Currently this area is now known as Bindura South in Zimbabwe. I was privileged enough to have grown up partly in the village and Harare, specifically Glen Norah B. When I grew up it was still a virgin land, with everything in abundance. Village life was so good and we were all very much a close knit family with one leader who was my grandfather, Stephen Chirimuuta Chikowore. My father is George Zvomuya Chikowore. My grand father was  a great man by all standards and he forever represents all that I remember about us as a people before we lost our god given norms. In the village those days the Spirit Mediums ruled and everything was guided by them. As a people we are part of the VaShawasha Clan. Our great grandfather we claim Chinamora chieftainship through is Wafanenhombo who was Chinamaringa’s brother. Wafanenhombo had two sons Chikowore and Charumbira. I am from the Chikowore family. As I said, I grew up enjoying abundance of what nature provided but this is no more!! Sad that my children can not enjoy what I enjoyed, such is evolution. I am now hoping to write a story about where Chidziva left and try to fill the jigsaw puzzle or the family! We are currently sub-chiefs in the are of Musana which is under Chief Musana of the Madyirapazhe, mukuwapasi people. We preside from Nyava to Denda/Msana Bazaar. we enjoy very good relationships with the Vagumbo people resident in Musana.

Chikowore had a son who was named Mhembere II after his grandfather Mhembere I. I am yet to confirm the other children of Mhembere II. Mhembere II had many children and one of them was Zvomuya. Zvomuya had many sons (Calvin Tinashe Shambare – provided details) namely Karongwa, Mazhindu, Mavhura, Mazanza, Mukurutangwa and Chiuta. Zvomuya also had two daughter. Mazhindu had two wives who were sisters and the first wife called Nyange had two sons – Muchenje and Shambare plus two daughters while the second wife had two sons, Reu and Sireu plus one daughter called Matiridha.  Mukurutangwa was born of a woman called Ndambi and Stephen Chirimuuta Born of a woman called Kabanda of Samanyanga totem with sisters Sandura and Chipiringani. For the rest see the pictures to follow.

Mukurutangwa had four daughters namely Margaret who got married to Kamudyariwa of the Matemai and lived in Chikowore Village but husband later moved to Chikokonya in Chinamora, Chamunga who got married to Matemai too by the surname Chiwanika from Domboshawa, Katarina who got married to Chikari of Nehumba totem in Mupandira. Because he had no son, Mukurutangwa is said to have developed a strong liking for his young brother’s second son George Zvomuya and used to spend a lot of time with him while living in Chikowore Village whereas Stephen Chikowore had married Esther Masawi whose family lived near the Damusi area. Stephen Chikowore lived there nearer to his work place at Nyava where he was a tailor. It is claimed that George Zvomuya spent his holidays in Chikowore village and grew up very close to the grandsons of Mukurutangwa and eventually Mukurutangwa and Stephen Chirimuuta agreed to let George be Mukurutangwa’s son.

Stephen Chikowore had the following Children:

  1. Bernard Murungweni
    1. Elisha
    2. Derek
    3. Dennis
    4. Todd
    5. Barbara
    6. Tongayi
    7. Mufarira
    8. Fortunate
    9. Virimayi
  2. Maginet got married to the Singes of totem Munendoro of Jingo in Chief Masembura’s area
  3. George Zvomuya
    1. Munyaradzi (First Wife)
    2. Fungayi
    3. Nhamoinesu
    4. Stephen
    5. Chakanetsa
    6. Godfrey (Left when he was young with his mum)
    7. Esther
    8. Brian
    9. Mercy
    10. Garikayi
    11. Primrose
    12. Gracious
  4. Clara got married to the Chinyangas of Mukuruwambwa totem
  5. Henry Chinyoka
    1. Milton
    2. Dudzai
    3. Getrude
    4. Angribert
  6. Thompson
    1. Sandra Digna (First Wife)
    2. Passmore
    3. Washington (Second wife)
  7. Edith – got married to the Rusikes of Wadyegora totem
  8. Tangwa
    1. Allan
    2. Lilian
    3. Allen
  9. Constantine
    1. Donald
    2. Nancy
    3. Trevor
    4. Yvonne
  10. Clever
    1. Webster
    2. Katarina
  11. Christopher
    1. Memory
    2. Kudzai
    3. Shephered
    4. Kudakwashe Denford

64 thoughts on “About the Author”

  1. interesting stuff. There is a story about a situation when a Chief was required and all Vashawasha who wanted to contend for the title gathered at a pool in a river. In the river they were required to find “gomarara remvura”. So all day men dived into the river but none could find it. Eventually a young man Dived and dissappeared underwater. When he came out with it they named him Chidziva and the place was called Dzivaresekwa. The pool of embarassment bcoz many were laughed at that day. Have you heard such a tale?

    Reply

    2. Funny enough i was told a story naTete vangu telling us about a similar story but this is in Chishawasha kwaMutimumwe. Asi they go on to say akatorwa nenjuzu..apparently this young man returned later on and became a medicine man…I wonder the authenticity of this tale as it seems to be wide spread…

      Reply

      1. So many of these stories where never written down and hence this action to try and collect as much as I can for the good of who we are and the future generations

      2. Yes this is true, interesting enough the story is during the life span of Tete vangu. Saka that would make it around the early to mid 1950’s as she mentioned that she was a young girl.

    3. This is all great guys of trying to understand more about it my sekuru by the name Jimmu Chawaipira is also from this claim but we were very young when he died but names like Kahari Mhembere was his brothers son and he was also married to moyo vadyogora daughters of chief Rusike imn Goromonzi,called vatendwa and vapanga was her sister.These names Chirimuuta, Chidziva, nzvere he used to say were related to him,Chikaka, mwanza in bhora,Vambe, He then came and settled at Denda was a mbira player to the vanzimu and masvikiro at a hill near Chakuronda hill just by the road near Nyaure turn off road and was kraal head Chakuronda, his wife taken by a man from Malawean origin and was very much furusted by this development which made him to go and work for white farmers in the area of Norton where he was based just by dame walls of Hunyani left all his positions catle and many otherto thos Kahari mhembere in Msana who was his brothers son. My father managed to come back in the 1976 and built again at Chakuronda but many of the family now are late this is great Mukanya you are doing well I have a plot were the Chief is and many of Chinanhoras are also there including the George,Farai Chinanhora, and many of Chidzivas including the acting Chief we are relatives but hey a lot needs discusdions and corrections, The late Chief Chidziva partially new the names when we discussed zvedu tiri pa denda pedu apo
      My name is Zebron Chawaipira but presume not the correct surname we have according to history.(Vepfumo jena baya wabaya vashawasha, soko Mrewa )sekuru vangu ndaivadzwa vachitaura izvozvo kana vanwira nwira mbira dzorohwa vairidza njari

      Reply

    1. Chirimuuta uyu aitaurwa zvaka nyanya na serkuru vangu vainzi Jimu Chawaipira aiva sabuku Chakiuronda padenda apo vairidza mbira findf out for me bro if you have trake

      Reply

  3. Talent,

    This could be true as most of our history is based on oral. This journal I found is the only material I have and tend to rely as most of what is said in here is echoed by many others within vaShawasha and neighbouring chieftainships such as Seke, Makoni, Chivero Zvimba and Chiweshe

    Reply

  5. I always wondered who tingini’s was. you provided me with very important infomation. Do you think tingini was influenced to.a certain extent by events during the mufecani?

    Reply

  7. We are also vashawasha but i know just a little bit about my deep deep roots how can someone assist me on this cause..My father used to talk of Dzama,Chinamaringa,Dzadagu,Munemo,Mhembere Kahari—–who lived in Musana Area somewhere in Mupandira,so we are connected somehow
    Zebron Chawaipira

    Reply

    2. Hi maybe clans get lost I’m from chikwenengere or mutimumwe I’m using munangatire Al these they are one family but history is directing us back to chinamora clan as I speak I have one of our sekuru who is there as Sayed he’s sub cheif acting course of clan break down think mungandibatsira Tiri based kugora now all families of both father’s chimbiro,munangatire ,chiwota,chikwenengere mutimumwe ,chawasarira we are all in God’s area so we’re are we linking chinamora if anyone can help

      Reply

      1. VaMunangatire, pano ndepeVaShawasha. Munoyera Soko Murehwa here? Handindazive zvevamwe asi patiosanga munhoroondo dzemagariro nemafambiro emadzitateguru ndingafara kukuzivisai. KuvaShawasha zita reputi Mutimumwe lirico asi tarisai paHistory yedu ipapo mungabetserekana

        Ndinotenda

      3. Okay if you can also share your own history to a point that will be helpful to many others as this is the purpose of this website. To reconnect with our ancestral dynasty

    3. This story reminds me of my home town where I had to die to survive.this story had me in tears😭😭😂😭😭👌🏿

      Reply

  8. Can you find out who was jim chawaipira he was our sekuru, ask some of your elders he use to play mbira dze njari,he used to go to Denda pa Chikomo Pachakuronda apo pa cross tichienda kwa shumba kudenda just after Mutanaurwa school.Anyhow in Musana vaigara pa Mhembere with someone by the name Kahari Mhembere,this one was his brothers son. so please as vakuru they might have an idea because i understand vari muimba yeu mambo but we have no track sevazukuru.

    Reply

  9. If you know anyone from Musana by the name Kahari from the father Mhembere now kwa sara vazukuru ne vana they must also get hold of me ini i am from Chakuronda village Chinamora along the dust road to Denda Township.Tichibva Kwamusana

    Reply

      1. The idea of this website is to help connect the Vashawasha. If we go private then many people will miss and thats what I am trying to avoid.

      2. @Fungayi, I am sorry i wanted to establish some variables and not to waste peoples time in the process. I wanted to find out if the area paDenda he is referring to is in Domboshawa? If so this is the region vaSekuru vangu lived after they was forcibly removed from Chishawasha before the missionary was established.

    1. Sorry for being late in responding to your question. The Madyirapazhe, Mukuwapasi, Gumbo, are originally from Musana and some of them emigrated to Gutu. This as far as I am told.

      Reply

    2. Munyikwa , Mabwazhe, N
      endanga., Chisvino, and Nemashakwe. These are all the sons of Diza Musana, Diza”s other name was Binda . That is where we get the name Bindura town.
      Mabwazhe is now Chief Gutu. Chisvino is Mupandawana. Munyikwa is Chief Munyikwa. Nendanga is Chief Ndanga in Zaka.

      Reply

  12. Interesting Stuff Fungayi! never thought there was someone with this info out there. iwe ingati uri hama yangu. ndiri wekwa Madondo. my sekuru was John Tinarwo. ndinobva kwa Musana. maybe you can give me nhoroondo yavo and vamwe!

    Reply

    1. Vari mhuri yaChinamora here? Mukaverenga pane narration yaChidziva you may get an idea kuti mafamilues acho akamira sei? I will check for you and just keep checking

      Reply

  13. this should be the work of the books, let it laid down for the history of our forfathers in our land, it cant go down without sign of legarcy our my forfather Gibbon Takaruza Makahamadze would say that!

    Reply

  15. ini ndiri soko Munangatire tateguru Chinamora tichibatana tichiti chirumuta mutimumwe munangatire chawasarira chikwenengere

    Reply

    2. Chirimuuta uyu aitaurwa zvaka nyanya na serkuru vangu vainzi Jimu Chawaipira aiva sabuku Chakiuronda padenda apo vairidza mbira findf out for me bro if you have trake

      Reply

  16. Just stumbled on this while researching the 12 generations of vaeragumbo! I’m a daughter of Josiah Muchapondwa- I would love to read your book -any idea where I can get it here in Cape Town?

    Reply

    3. I’m Judy Dambaza or Muchekesi from Musana mudhara, muera Gumbo, I guess it’s the original Musana. This is very interesting and I am also now looking for more deeper history of my roots.

      Reply

    1. If you have any written history, please email me and I will publish here for the good of everyone. Please let us share as we stand to lose otherwise.

      Reply

  21. Interesting stuff sir, my late grandfather used the surname Kahari, however my father used Chavunduka, I have uncles who use Mhembere as a surname, all from Musana near Chindotwe Primary school, all are Soko Murehwa, will definitely get more on how we came about.

    Reply

  22. My great grandfather was Mhembere from Musana area between Nyava and Guhwa. But his Father was Honzeri and His father was Masiiwa as far as I can remember. I use mhembere as my surname but not sure how we are related. I want to know where my people came from

    Reply

      1. There is someone who is very familiar about the Mhembere from Musana. My grant father used to tell me about this: Richard Mhembere( late

  23. Hi this is interesting, I am a Zvomuya from Murewa, I am told we are of the same origins with the Chikowore and Chidziva family all being of the chinhamhora chieftainship. May you share information if you have any on the Chimhandara house, it is also believed to encompass the Utsiwegota household.

    Reply

    1. Mukanya,

      I am sorry that I may not give you the answer to your request. I would suggest you discuss with elders and build a family tree which can be shared here and other people can input to build better understanding of our big family

      Reply

  25. Nyama yedu vana mukuruvara kubva kune wepedzisira agere pagumbo raamai akaruma nyatso neukuru wedu kusvika kune vakatibatira tsvimbo dzepasi parezvino. Ndauya pano ini ndini mwana wedangwe raCnirimuuta anonzi CHAITEZVI ari muzukuru zve watateguru redu DEREREGODZONGA avo vakabva GURUUSWA.

    Ndaona zvakakodzera kuti ndiisewo dama rimwe chete kana maviri pano pa dare redu revashawasha timboonesana pamashoma pandakabata.

    Munyandari kana kuti Author chokutanga ndinomutenda nekupatsanura dare redu maringe nekuberekwa kwdu vashawasha. Zvinochiregai ndipinde pamwongo wenyaya yedu vanaCninamora.

    Panezvishomane zvatinodakuonesana pano:

    A. MADZITATEGURU EDU VASHAWASHA VAKABVA GURUUSWA KWATAKABVA TOSE VAERA SOKO, TIRI VANA MUKANYA

    i) TUMBUDU
    ii) NEMANGO
    iii) TINGINI

    B. Madzitateguru edu akabva GURUUSWA ndiwo aya:

    1.DEREREGODZONGA
    2.NEHAMBAKAMBA
    3.MASUWANI
    4.KAPUNGUMBERI
    5.VAMBE
    6.RUSERE
    7.MAREMBO
    8.NGARANDE
    9.CHARAKUPA

    C. DEREREGODZONGA (1st CHIEF) WAKABEREKA MWANA WAKE UMWE CHETE ANONZI CHIRIMUUTA: VANA VAKE CHIRIMUUTA NDIVO AVA:

    1 CHAITEZVI
    2.NYAMARE
    3.MHEMBERE

    NB:NDIDZO DZIMBA DZINOFANIRA KURAVANA USHE HWEDU VASHAWASHA :

    D. VANA VA CHAITEZVI NDIVO AVA:
    i) Zinyongo
    ii) Chihungwa
    iii) Nyaokorefu
    iv) Nyajiradema

    E. VANA VA NYAMARE
    i)) VAMBE
    ii) KWAPATA

    F. VANA VAMHEMBERE

    i) Chinamaringa
    ii) Chidziva
    iii) Nzvere
    iv) Charumbira
    v) Chingoma
    vi) Dzama
    vii) Shambare
    viii) Chihuri
    ix) Muchenje
    x) Kahari

    NB: vose avo vana vaMHEMBEREvakagara USHE:

    IMBA ya CHAITEZVI HAINA KUMBOGARA USHE Nekuda kwzvikonzero zvatisinga kwanise kuyerura pano.

    G. MAMBO WEKUTANGA KUGARA USHE HWEVASHAWASHA:
    i) DEREREGODZONGA
    ii) CHAITEZVI
    iii) NYAMARE
    iv) MHEMBERE

    Authored by the son of Joacquim, Zinyongo Ngwerume, Chijeche Chaitezvi.

    Reply

    1. Welcome Mukanya, sorry kunonoka kukupindurai. Nyaya mawunza padare yakanaka chose asi maziviro evakuru vedu anosiyana chaizvo. Dai mawongorora zvakanyorwawo nevamwe moona kuti zvenyu zvinopinda papi uyezve patinopesana ndepapi.

      Reply

Leave a reply to Lester Madondo Cancel reply