Military of the Mutapa Organisation of the Mutapa State

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• The Mutapa did not have a standing army
• The army was mobilized from peasants when there was an emergency
• The war council in the Mutapa state was known as Dare ReHondo
• It would convene in times of war and give direction to the army
• The council was chaired by the Munhumutapa (king)
• If the council decided to declare war, the Muchinda (prince of royal blood) would be made head of the army
• Each war regiment in the Mutapa state had its own banner/badge representing an animal figure such as elephants, oxen and other animals
• The soldiers were gathered together by a war cry
• Evidence from oral tradition suggest that an army of around 3000 or 5000 soldiers would be psychologically prepared a n’anga (witch doctor) for battle
• The Mutapa would use magic to instill discipline and courage in the army
• They would receive treatment and war drums were sounded enough to frighten the enemy with drums beating in a different way.
• The army was further divided into battalions of about 200-500 men under a field commander
• Documented field commanders included:
  1. Makota,
  2. Pase,
  3. Machenge,
  4. Nyuno,
  5. Mafutu,
  6. Vasika Matemane among others
• The Mutapa army used the cow horn formation which they called muromo to encircle the enemy
• The army preferred to fight in the open so no ambushes occurred
• They never fought at night but sometimes they would attack at dawn

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