The Legend of Chief Chikwande Gandari 643 - 720AD A very long thread!!
Born in 643AD to Chikunguvo the son of Jekacheka of Nemarundwi, Gandari was the last born in his family. He grew up under the stewardship of Momberefu around the Nemarundwi area in Zimuto. Momberefu was the trusted nengomasha to chief Chikunguvo who had now taken reigns.
Growing up was tough. He was taught to fight and he grew to be a fierce warrior who always went out to plunder and came back loaded with war spoils. One day in August 670AD at the age of 27, Gandari had a misunderstanding with Momberefu whilst in training, and they had a bloody
fight which resulted in the delivery of a fatal blow to Momberefu and killed him. There were few men at that training who saw everything. Now fearing for his life for killing his father's friend, Gandari ran away along the Pokoteke River. Few of the men decided to join him and
hid in the areas of Mutimurefu close to Zishumbe. Chikunguvo discovered the bad news and set men in pursuit of Gandari. When the men came to Gandari, they were all captured by Gandari and became prisoners, who later then joined his army as least ranked members. Gandari moved
further down Pokoteke and passed Mutirikwi and stayed just few kilometers south west of the river. They lived off of plundering other tribes' domesticated animals and seed in the fields. A certain Chief Nemauzhe who was in the areas of Chivi heard of this Gandari and was quick to
mobilize his men to the east and fortify his chieftainship. Upon contact with Gandari's men, Nemauzhe's men were battered heavily and suffered many casualties and injuries. Some who escaped managed to go and report to Nemauzhe who was utterly disappointed at his army's inability
to fight, and he took some of his finest fighters with him to go face Gandari himself. By the time they fully set defensive positions close to Gandari's rumored position, he was already gone, further down towards Tugwi Mukosi river. Nemauzhe restrategized and came again with his
new tactics towards Gandari and his men. Nemauzhe sent two men on a reconnaissance mission to check out Gandari and his men The two men came back with a devastating report that "Gandari is a man of big stature and he always wears a huge crown on his head which he guards so dearly
and none other man has such a crown. His men wake up daily and train in archery and knobkerry throwing and they don't miss". When the report reached Nemauzhe, fear flowed through the whole camp and Nemauzhe consulted from his sangomas on what was the best way to attack. The
sangoma Mukombe told him that he needed to make one of the biggest galas and celebrate for victory was guaranteed. Nemauzhe then made one of the biggest conga drums ever made in the history of the Karanga and Mbire people which had an approximate diameter of 17m in modern day
measurements with 4 elephant hides carefully sewn together by a leather mhizha called Chimwango. They celebrated and hit the big drum and the sound reached Gandari and his men who were hiding in one of the nearby forests. After the celebrations, Nemauzhe mobilized with his men
and went to face Gandari. Indeed, the Nemauzhe camp was full of excitement and motivation. The battle was heavily contested and Nemauzhe managed to push Gandari's men to the mountainous area. That evening Nemauzhe ordered his men to stop the pursuit and come for another
restrategizing meeting before delivering a final deadly attack to Gandari and his men. That night Nemauzhe celebrated again with his famous and big drum sending shivers into the Gandari camp. Gandari though, was busy throughout the night making traps and pits strategically
placing them in all approach routes whilst fortifying his area and had a huge and steep slope behind him for cover. He placed his well trained and finest archers at vantage points and made sure the enemy was streamlined to low areas. On early morning Wednesday 18 September 670AD,
Nemauzhe mobilized his men towards Gandari's defensive position. His first two and most deadly regiments passed the inactivated traps and the archers were on standby. Upon the smoke signal by one of the men on top of the mountains, traps were activated and archers rained terror
and eliminating almost the whole regiments. Those trying to escape fell into various pit traps and Nemauzhe was captured. Gandari tried to negotiate with Nemauzhe to join him and become a fortified army but Nemauzhe felt like he would have betrayed all those who died at his
command and chose to die instead. Nemauzhe had one last wish before he joined his ancestors and his brave fighters that the big drum be played one last time. Gandari granted his wish and played the big drum and executed him before other several wounded and captured Nemauzhe
followers. Nemauzhe was buried inside his big drum and the place is called Ngomahuru (which translates to The Big Drum) up to this day. The news of Gandari's victory reached a very notorious chief in Rutenga called Chitanga. He brushed off all this as fake news and wanted to see
the legend himself. He devised a plan to know all about Gandari before ultimately destroying him. Chitanga sent two spies Mwenezi and Gora who then infiltrated Gandari's stronghold and stayed among his men for the whole of October spying. Around the end of October, heavy rains
were being forecasted by the popular self proclaimed prophet, water bender and rainmaker (nyusa) among Gandari's men called Chinovava. Gandari had to make sure he was well away from any more wars and start a new territory around this area where he killed Nemauzhe. However,
Gandari felt he was not safe and needed to proceed further down into more mountainous areas which could provide him with much needed cover. He wanted to build a dzimbabwe on top of one of the most strategic mountains. He found large mountains which he used to look around and scan
his tactical environment (nzvimbo yekuringira vavengi) and he called it Maringire (even unto this day). He stayed in those mountains for about 2 months till November 670AD. When Mwenezi and Gora (the two spies) thought they had gathered enough intelligence to give Chitanga back
in Rutenga, they slipped away in the dead of the night on 2 December 670. Gora was attacked by a lion on their way back and died before accounting his story to Chitanga. When Mwenezi reached Chitanga and made his report that "Gandari is a man of huge stature and always wears a
crown which he holds dearly to himself with well-trained archers who shoot and kill flies with their fiery arrows", Chitanga was not convinced. Since there was no other witness to certify Mwenezi's account, Chitanga was forced to do the honors himself and he therefore planned an
attack and totally disregarded Mwenezi's narrative and planned to wedge war against Gandari. Mwenezi was so heartbroken by the reaction Chitanga took after he had risked his own life whilst being a spy for Chitanga for 2 months. Mwenezi left Chitanga’s Rutenga and moved further
down and lived close to a river which he named after himself up to this day. Meanwhile, still, it had not rained although it was already December and the rainmaker Chinovava was now in hot soup by Gandari who wanted answers as in why Chinovava’s predictions were not on point.
Gandari’s war tactics were heavily reliant on the rainfall for food, water and wild fruits. It was also good for camouflaging in the thick and dense forests. As such he moved further down to other mountainous area overlooking the Runde river. Unknown to him, an enemy was already
planning his demise few kilometers down south. Meanwhile Chitanga’s son, Doravushe had learned of the legend of Gandari and was now a massive fan of his, to the displeasure of Chitanga. As such when Chitanga mobilized his men to go war against Gandari, he intentionally left
Doravushe behind. On Friday the 13th of December 670AD, Chitanga and his men left Rutenga to go and mount an attack on Gandari’s initial position which he had been given by Mwenezi. Chitanga went prepared with shields made from heavy mopane tree bark and leather from rhinos, the
shields were virtually impenetrable by arrowheads. This was done to eliminate danger from archers. Chitanga has also trained few goats to move around obstacles and pits and he took with him 27 goats, well trained for war.
The initial position held by Gandari was a 4 days journey and Gandari had enough food supplies to last him and his men just that. But he didn’t know that Gandari had advanced down south, shortening the distance to a 2 days journey. Chitanga had 3 well trained fighters disguise as
goat herders move in front to detect any traps and pits. On Sunday in the evening, whilst walking up north, the goats uncovered one pit trap and ran back to the “shepherds”, who in turn ran back to relay the message that they have already entered Gandari territory. Chitanga then
halted the remaining large body of his army and planned for an early morning attack. Meanwhile Gandari was way up on top of one of the mountains that Sunday evening with Chinovava asking him serious questions about the rain. There were few anthills full of salt, few meters from
the hill’s foot where Gandari’s men used to collect salt for their meat. Gandari told Chinovava that if nothing truly materializes, Gandari would slice up Chinovava and put salt on his body and feed him to the hyenas. Chinovava then said if the rain had not fallen down the next
day, he was willing to be thrown off the cliff and be called a liar and a bogus prophet as well as agreeing to be sliced up, salted and fed to the hyenas. It was indeed a bold uttering from Chinovava who had no clue how the rains would come that very same night. Meanwhile, as
usual, Gandari had put archers around the foot of the hill behind the pit traps to monitor and detect any movement. Early morning on Monday 16 December 670AD, Chitanga’s men moved stealthily towards the hill, carefully avoiding the traps using the well-trained goats and managed
to gain some distance into the foot of the hill undetected until when one of the goats came to the salty anthills and stopped. More goats ran in excitement towards the salty anthills alerting the guards and immediately the war started. Chitanga’s men fought bravely, Gandari’s
archers rained waves and waves of arrows but they were extinguished by the mopane shields. Gandari woke up to commotion among his men whilst up there torturing Chinovava. Gandari then ordered his men to retreat up the hill. Few of his men made it up the hill including still the
finest archers he had not unleashed. The battle raged on till midday when suddenly a dark voluminous cloud came from the northwest covering the top of the mountain. A large fierce lightning bolt struck one of the trees on top of the hill sending it into flames followed by heavy
rains. Chinovava was so happy though he was heavily tied by ropes made from tree barks. He then convinced the guard soldier assigned to monitor him to untie him since his prophecy had come true. Chiguvare looked just like Gandari, in stature and complexion in such a way that
many people mistook him for Gandari. Chiguvare untied Chinovava who immediately escaped downhill on the same ropes, using the other dangerously steep side of the hill. However, Chinovava was so weak and he knew he would not survive a pursuit by Gandari’s men, so he decided to
surrender and join Chitanga’s men downhill. Meanwhile, large rock boulders moved downslope crushing some of Chitanga’s men who were trying to climb up the hill. This made Gandari order his men to roll rocks and stones downhill. Gandari’s men fought bravely. It was well past
sunset and darkness was covering the area yet the rains had not stopped falling. Chitanga ordered his men to retreat and restrategize. Gandari also returned back to the top of the hill with the few men left only to find Chinovava gone and escaped. Chiguvare was so scared and he
told Gandari that he had untied Chinovava since his prophecy had came true.Gandari was so disappointed and took off his crown and put it on Chiguvare’s head saying “Ndiwe ka wava Mambo wava kuita zvaunoda” (You are now the king since you are doing want you want and making orders)
Chiguvare wore the heavy crown the whole night as punishment. Early morning when Chitanga wanted to launch another attack, he was told that one of Gandari’s closest men had surrendered and is willing to help plan the downfall of Gandari. Chinovava was brought to Chitanga and
revealed how Gandari had no food supplied on top of that hill and if not for the few captured goats he had taken from Chitanga’s men the previous night during battle, Gandari was going to starve to death. Chitanga evaluated the intel he was given and decided to wait one more day
putting Gandari’s hill under siege. Gandari and his men were hiding from the heavy rains in a dry cave where they had been roasting the goats for food at night. The cave was heavily guarded by men and fine archers. When the day passed without any attacks, Gandari decided to send
two men to check if Chitanga’s men were gone. He was shocked to realize the men were firmly rooted downhill. It remained as such for 4 good days. Now the goat meat was finished and his men were starving, Gandari knew that his starving men would either sell him out or will be too
weak to fend off another attack and he had to think fast for a solution. He walked out of the cave to the burnt tree and discovered several green worms partially burnt by that lightning strike. He tasted few of them and discovered they were not just edible, but also delicious.
He ordered his men to come and taste and they enjoyed and ate the green worms and even put salt on them. The men survived for 3 more days whilst eating the worms and drinking water from the rain flowing on the hill slopes. When Chitanga saw that Gandari and his men are not coming
down the hill, he knew he had listened to bad intel and he called for Chinovava who was enjoying his rest. Chinovava then again was tortured by Chitanga who now believed he was a spy. Chinovava vowed that if Gandari’s men do not come down the heal the following day, he would
agree to him being roasted on fire or even sliced up, salted and fed to the hyenas if his prediction did not come through the next day. He was tied by ropes made from tree bark as Chitanga waited to see if the prediction would really come true. The following day, Gandari mocked
Chiguvare who was still wearing the King’s crown and said, “King what shall we do now, shall we stay at this mountain forever? Why don’t you go and speak to Chitanga for a truce? Huh” Chiguvare’s neck was so painful and he could not utter a word. Gandari pushed Chiguvare out of
the cave and removed the ropes that were tying Chiguvare, scarring him in the process. Chiguvare started walking downhill. Gandari’s men reminded him that he was leaving with his crown to which Gandari replied,” he is the King, he makes decisions now, so let him wear that crown”
When some movement was seen downhill by Chitanga’s watchmen, they told Chitanga that “a man with a large crown is moving downhill”. Immediately Chitanga came and told Chinovava that a man with a large crown was coming downhill. They gave him the description and Chinovava indeed
confirmed that it was Gandari coming downhill as he had just predicted. They waited for the man to come to the foot of the hill and as the man approached the watchmen, they were all convinced it was Gandari from the bruises of his body from afar. They knew those were battle
scars from the night before as they were fresh and needed nursing. Chitanga ordered his men not to shoot any arrows or spears till he meets the men himself. As Chiguvare was coming close to Chitanga (who had not seen Gandari up-close), Chitanga then went to Chinovava so that he
could confirm if it was indeed Gandari up-close. When Chinovava was freed and brought to Chiguvare who was already pinned face down by Chitanga’s men, Chinovava came and slapped Chiguvare from the back. When Chiguvare managed to look up, he realized it was Chinovava, the very
same person who had caused all this mess and he spit into his face. Chitanga shouted on top of his voice to Chinovava asking if indeed it was Gandari. Chinovava had two options, either to say it was not Gandari and get himself killed for a wrong prediction, or to say it was
indeed Gandari and be free…however the second option was tricky because Chitanga would relax and think the battle is over yet the real Gandari would still come and fight Chitanga. If Chitanga would later discover that Chinovava had lied, still he would kill him. Whatever his
decision, Chinovava’s ultimate demise was upon him. He grabbed Chitanga’s assegai and slit his own throat and died. Chitanga immediately knew the battle was not over. He captured Chiguvare who later confessed that he is not Gandari. He also told Chitanga that Gandari was planning
on coming down the very same day to fight with everything he has. Chitanga immediately told his men to go uphill. Gandari also ordered his men to go downhill and fight with all they had in them. The battle was bloody and many lives were lost. Gandari still made it and ran into
Chitanga’s camp to claim back his crown from the captured Chiguvare. Gandari fought with all he had. When he finally got to Chiguvare, he was so weak and feeble but he managed to tell him that it was Chinovava who had exposed everything to Chitanga & Chiguvare became unconscious
Whilst holding his crown in his hands, Gandari saw Chitanga coming at him to fight. They fought so hard exchanging blows and hitting each other and scratching each other with assegais. Gandari was pinned down by Chitanga and Chitanga was now going for the throat to slit it open,
that is when Chiguvare gained consciousness and threw the heavy crown, hitting Chitanga. Gandari then overpowered Chitanga and slit his throat instead. Gandari then ran to Chiguvare to thank him for such a brave act and he felt unworthy to wear that cursed crown again and he left
it in one of the mountains. That area was famous for the story of Gandari’s crown and was called “nzvimbo yeNgundu ya Gandari” (meaning the place of Gandari’s crown in Shona) shortened to Ngundu up to this day!
Back in Rutenga when news reached Doravushe (Chitanga’s son) that his father had died in battle, killed by people who had been besieged and starved, he was later told that the sieged men had survived off salted green worms and water.
He named the green worms in honor of Gandari’s heroics and they are called magandari up to this day.
He himself also discovered that there are also black and brown worms with thorns that also survive off the mopane trees of Rutenga and he named them madora after himself and they are called by the same name unto this day and they are most Zimbabweans' favorite African delicacy!
