THE Seke chieftaincy, of the Shava Vuramai totem, deserves a special mention in the history of

Zimbabwe.

From pre-colonial to post-colonial period, the chieftaincy has stood the test of time.

Currently led by the 17th Chief Seke, born Stanley Chimanikire, the chiefdom covers the whole of
Chitungwiza and stretches to parts of present-day Harare.

The Seke chieftaincy, according to oral tradition, was started by Motsi, first son of Nyashanu, who
moved north from Uhera, now known as Buhera.

He moved with his brothers who later established the Hwata and Chiweshe chieftaincies further north.

Their main reason for moving north was the realisation that their father’s land had become small and
could not accommodate their ambition of becoming chiefs.

He arrived in present day Seke in the area under Rozvi Chief Neharava.

After arriving in the area, Seke fought the Rozvi before taking over their land and name.

It was out of the war that Seke’s totem earned the praise name Vuramavi.

Oral history has it that the war was so intense, leaving several killed and injured.

The Rozvi people appealed to their God to intervene.

As a result, God intervened by sending a hailstorm.

The hailstorm was so strong and it signalled the end of the vicious war.

“There was a war between Seke Mutema and Moyondizvo Dehwa (the occupants of the land) then the
older generation had a system of taking over the opponent’s name after defeating it. Therefore when
they fought Gunguwo people or Moyondizvo and the war ended with a hailstorm and from that day we
were called Vuramavi. That is what I heard from our elders,” said Chief Seke.

After defeating the Rozvi, they assumed their name, Harava.

Today, the Seke people are still known as the Harava people.

There are five families in the Seke lineage; Motsi, Zhakata, Chauruka, Savanhu and Zinyati.

According to the Seke people, their original territory borders Chief Svosve to the east, stretching to the
Chihota area where they share a boundary with Chief Chihota.

The chiefdom moves further west to Ngezi River incorporating parts of Mhondoro-Ngezi to Muzvezve
River.
Chiefs Nyamweda, Mashayamombe, Zvimba and Chivero share boundaries with Seke.

In the greater Harare, parts of Mufakose, Marimba and Belvedere were parts of Seke’s territory,
stretching to Mabvuku where they share a boundary with Chief Chihota.

The chiefdom moves further west to Ngezi River incorporating parts of Mhondoro-Ngezi to Muzvezve
River.

Chiefs Nyamweda, Mashayamombe, Zvimba and Chivero share boundaries with Seke.

In the greater Harare, parts of Mufakose, Marimba and Belvedere were parts of Seke’s territory,
stretching to Mabvuku where they share a boundary with Chief Chinamhora.

Goromonzi and Grasslands near Marondera are also part of the Seke chiefdom.

To the north, Seke’s territory extended to Christonbank, sharing a boundary with his brother Chiweshe.

“Boundaries in the beginning were marked by natural landmarks like rivers and mountains. That’s why
you heard that we drove away Moyondizvo to Ngezi River. Seke was a warrior who would continually
expand his territory. Our boundary with Chief Zvimba is at Nyabira and there is evidence of war fought
between Seke and Zvimba. We have graves of our relatives who died in the war there. After that war,
we put our ‘watch’, Mbari, our in-law, by the Kopje to keep an eye and inform us when Zvimba was
coming. We shared the boundary with Chief Chiweshe at Christonbank. If you hear that Harare belongs
to Seke, this is what they mean.