Migration, Displacement and Belonging: A History of the Tembo Mvura People, Northern Zimbabwe

Abstract

Debates on who arrived in Kanyemba first have been central in many aspects of everyday life in the Kanyemba community. This study examines the history of the Tembo Mvura people in northern Zimbabwe, from the pre-colonial period to 1980. They have been subject to displacement, migration, and resettlement due to the actions of Portuguese prazeros and the Chikundas, who resided in the valley. This ethnographical paper uses oral histories and archival documents to provide an understanding of the history of the Tembo Mvura. Oral histories collected through interviews with community members provide valuable insight into the community’s experiences and perspectives. Archival documents from the colonial period were used to gain a deeper understanding of the political and social context of the time and how the Tembo Mvura people were affected. The study argues that the Tembo Mvura arrived first in Kanyemba, but their voices have not been heard in discourses of belonging and autochthony. The study challenges the Chikunda trajectory and identity stereotypes about the community that have been perpetuated as historical truths. This study reinserts the Tembo Mvura history into the historical trajectory of the Kanyemba area, addressing topical subjects and themes of belonging, identity, migration, and settlement.