Traditional African ways of life become more civilized from the early early iron age people and

civilization is relevant to the Zimbabwean society society. There are several reasons that include trading

and, political systems, division of labour, mining and agriculture. The use of minerals brings greater

improvement in the economic system of the state because they has important uses and on demand too.

Key terms to be defined are Traditional African Civilisation.

Traditional African Civilisation is a way of thinking, a set of beliefs, or a way of life based on oral tradition

which means that the basic values and way of life are passed from elder to younger generations. It also

composed of constituent elements or cultures which are interwoven with another and are in constant

interaction with other civilization. These are not religious principles but are cultural identity that passed

through stories,myths and tales. Kroeber (1973 :1-27) and Chang (1982:365) define it as a product of

human evolution in which cities emerge.

Long ago, Africans practice agriculture where they grow crops and rearing of animals. The crops grown
were including finger millet, sorghum, rapoko and legume crops. Some of the crops were used for beer
brewing on ceremonies. This beer was made up of sorghum and played an important and excellent
social role. Bourdillon (1982)support the above by further arguing that the grains were used for barter
trade during the time for serious drought and famine. They exchange grain with clothes and food.
Africans become skilled producers of traditional and they have good knowledge of their climate change,
weather and soil type. Most of these crops were drought resistant. Madenge (1988) argued that crops
were less prone to pest both in the field and storage.long back agriculture was not easy because there
was over working use using old modern tools such as iron hoes, axes, wooden ploughs and cattles.

Even nowadays agriculture is very important because it provides provides a lot and variety of food to
human beings and animals. There is less labour because of use of advanced tools and machinery such as
harvesters, planters and tractor.The sweet sorghum reeds and maize stalks used as animal and chickens
feeds. Beach (1983) says the production of crops as it was a labour intensive it brings people together in
cooperatives, work creation, spirit of oneness or togetherness which bond them in cordial social relation
of production. Agriculture offers insight into indigenous agricultural techniques and land management
practices which can inform modern methods suitable to the Zimbabwe's climate and environment.

Agriculture dominate the Zimbabwean economy despite the it contributes a lot of gross national
products in most years. Prior to independence the communal owned farms were predominantly
subsistence oriented and employed most of the population. It was only maize meal sector that the
liberalization had strong positive impacts for both urban poor and rural areas Muir-leresche
(1998).Agriculture production patterns in Zimbabwe are dominant by rainfall. Most plants planted in
November and December at the beginning of the rains and harvested between January and April.

There was political systems in traditional civilization. In the past the king had many advisors helped him.
These include chiefs, headman, kraal heads and his senior wife (vahosi). The king was in charge of their
installation. Mambo was was in overall in charge of military, religious and political powers. Tribute was
collected for the king by the army and the aligents to the king was done through payment of tribute. The
position of the king was hereditary and the power of the king was rested by the army. The Rozvi rulers
were known as Changamire or Mambo. Beach (1980) says that the was assisted by the chiefs and army
during the war. Traditional provides historical examples of the governance base on consensus and
communal decision making which can inspire modern political structure. It is also exhibit a deep respect
for nature and sustainable living which aligns with current efforts of ecology conservation and
preservation in Zimbabwe. They offer alternative leadership, models based on wisdom, counsel and
community consensus which can supplement modern leadership practice. It also recognize the
importance of specific roles like custodianship, spiritual leadership and community mediators which can
be incorporated into contemporary governance structure.

African civilization had their own systems of governance and leadership often based on consensus and
collective decision making while modern political structures have evolved some elements of traditional
governance systems that can be still be observed in Zimbabwean society such as the role of traditional
chief chief and their influence in local communities is recognized by the government. Today the
President has the advisors that include ministers, member of parliament. These people administers in
their positions in behalf of the leader. The government makes the laws and ensure that every citizen is
protected so that live in peace, enjoy protection of the law and enjoys personal freedom, every citizen
enjoys rights to self defense and the greatest privilege of a citizen is the right to share in the government
of the country.

Division of labour also relevant to the society because long back males and females divided their duties
among themselves. Males were responsible for hard jobs because they were the head of the families.
Hunting, mining, fighting in battles in civil wars was done by men. In hunting they get ivory and animal
skin which were more important and people become more rich. They end up trading with ivory and
minerals to earn a better living. Ivory was used for paying tribute to the king. Fishing become their
hobby. Women were taken low. They were responsible for child bearing, working in fields and fetching
firewood. Light and easy jobs was for women only. To the greater extent in Zimbabwean society women
occupy high positions like joining army, police, working in mines and other duties which were
considered as male duties. Long ago men were the ones who were paying lobola to the women's family
as a token of appreciation in marriage but nowadays some of women pay lobola for themselves because
their husband's are poor but they love each other. Division labour shed light on gender roles, power
dynamics, relationships patterns that existed prior to colonial influence, promoting gender equality
discussions.
Trading practiced by the traditional Africans. Trading is the exchanging of goods and goods or a process
of buying and selling of goods and services between people. There was many reasons centralized states
arise due to gain from trade which are possible mechanism to take over the authority of the smaller
state in the vacinity. The other is the rise of the state was the ability kings to amass wealth through
taxation letting them gain prestige and control the flow of tribute. There are some sorts of trade matters
while the ecological diversity serves the capacity of trade products from different ecological zones. Some
other sources of trade are fishing, iron and gold give similar rise to state. Gold enters significantly having
either mineral within an ethic groups. The effect of gold is marginally significant with control this is
according to Bates (1983).life at Great Zimbabwe around 15th century show how civilized the Africans
were. People transformed from hunting and gathering to being farmers and traders to get a better
living. Rodney W (1972) argued that some of African states pay of tax at Great Zimbabwe as well as
engagement in trade as a evidence Africans were civilized. Trade was practiced local and foreign.

In Zimbabwean society minerals are major exports exchanged local and international and it brings
wealth to the country and better standards of living and it is a crime to trade illegal. There are some
people who only think of their own warfare. There is corruption which result in suffering of the poor
could taint their relevance and significance. Some Zimbabweans benefits from wealthy nations. Here in
Zimbabwe the Zimbabwe Revenue Authorities are in charge for that.

All the above activities are relevant to the Zimbabwean society and the nowadays there are several
changes because of the uses of advanced technology and machinery to make work easier. As the society
we benefit as a whole. So it is a blessing to us as a whole even some time become sufficient but half a
loaf is better than nothing.

References

Bates, R. (1983). Essay on the political economy of rural Africa. University of California Press.

Beach, N. D(1983). The Zimbabwean Plateau and its People's In: Birmingham, D and Martin, P.

M. (eds) History of Central Africa, Volume One. London Longman.

Bourdillon, F. C. (1982). The Shona. Ethnography of the Contemporary Shona with special

References of their religion. Gweru Mambo Press.

Chang, Kwuang Chih.(1982) Shang Civilisation. New Haven :Yale University Press

Kroeber, A. C. (1973). Style and Civilization. Ithaca:Greenwood Publishing Group.

Madenge, S. I. G. (1988).A Political History of Munhumutapa 1400-1902 Harare :Zimbabwe

Publishing House.
Muir, K. (1998). Agriculture and Macroeconomic reforms in Zimbabwe :A Political Economy

Perspective TMD Discussion Paper No 29.Washington D C(International food Policy

Research Institute.)

Rodney, W. (1972)How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. Beyond borders :Thinking critically about

global issues.