Matopos Research Articles

Orphans of Matobo: Comparing BaKalanga Displacement From and Animals Displacement to Chipangali Animal Orphanage

In 1926, the colonial Rhodesian state created Matobo National Park on whose shoulders Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage was established in 1974. That was followed by displacements of BaKalanga communities. By comparing livelihoods of marginalized human and animal orphans, this article provides new lens for analyzing the displacement discourse. It captures BaKalanga struggles against exclusion as orphanhood. Through ethnographically gathered narratives and animal orphan observations, it contributes to scholarship by investigating longitudinal impacts of displacement on human and animal orphan livelihoods, thereby offering a more than human displacement history. “Orphans of Matobo” captures BaKalanga characterization of their livelihoods outside ancestral land.

The petrogenesis of orbicular granites in the Diana’s Pool area, Zimbabwe

Abstract This paper assesses a poorly studied outcrop of orbicular granite from the Matopos granite batholith in the Diana’s Pool area, Zimbabwe. Historical samples from Diana’s Pool exhibit closely packed orbicules in a granitic matrix. They are 9 to 14 cm in diameter and are characterised by different types of orbicules containing coarse-grained felsic cores, fine-grained and alternating ferromagnesian and feldspathic shells, and a coarse-grained matrix. The orbicules are generally spherical to ellipsoidal in shape, however, some appear to be abraded and deformed. The compositions and grain sizes of cores and the matrix are comparable. Both the matrix and the cores are medium- to coarse-grained and dominated by plagioclase (the matrix probably in slightly lesser proportions), microcline (in variable proportions, and seemingly absent in some cores), quartz, biotite and accessory hornblende and magnetite. Contrary to the cores and matrix, shells are fine-grained and exhibit polygonal textures. In addition to this, the shells are dominated by biotite and magnetite; however, they do not contain hornblende. Plagioclase shows an almost complete overlap of An contents, x¯ = 26 ± 2.3 (core), x¯ = 24 ± 0.9 (shell) and x¯ = 25 ± 2.0 (matrix). Biotite composition in the shells is significantly less magnesian (x¯ = 16 ± 2.4) than in core (x¯ = 27 ± 2.2) and matrix (x¯ = 25 ± 2.2), whose compositions overlap. Average initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios from plagioclase in all the analysed shells (x¯ = 0.70226) are slightly more radiogenic than in the matrix (x¯ = 0.70193) and cores (x¯ = 0.70187). Cores are autoliths, which are plagioclase-rich, cumulate, or rim fragments reworked by new magma inputs or injections. Heterogeneous nucleation leading to the formation of orbicular shells around the cores is attributed to adiabatic decompression of magma pulses ascending in dykes, leading to superheating and resorption of early solids, and volatile exsolution, inducing undercooling, supersaturation, and shell crystallisation. The coarse-grained matrix crystallised later, after the orbicules formed, creating the groundmass and locking the orbicules in place. The deformation of shells and cores suggests that the orbicules continued to evolve in the presence of a melt (matrix material). As part of the Matopos Hills World Heritage Site, the Diana’s Pool orbicular granites present a unique and noteworthy petrogenesis, which should be preserved as part of the region’s important geoheritage.

Twentieth century precipitation trends in the upper Mzingwane sub-catchment of the northern Limpopo basin, Zimbabwe

This study evaluates precipitation trends in the upper Mzingwane sub-catchment (UMS) of Zimbabwe using ten World Meteorological Organization (WMO)’s Expert Team for Climate Change Detection Monitoring and Indices climate indices. Trend analysis for variables such as annual total precipitation, extremely wet days, consecutive wet and dry days is analysed. The UMS is of strategic socio-economic significance in terms of water security and sustenance to livelihoods in this region and the city of Bulawayo. The analysis is undertaken at four stations: Bulawayo Goetz, Filabusi, Mbalabala and Matopos National Park (MNP), for the period 1921–2000. In general, no statistically significant trends were detected for all indices in all stations (with the exception of MNP (in the westernmost extent of UMS)) which showed significant increasing (decreasing) trends for most dryness (total precipitation) extreme indices. This is indicative of persistent drying coupled with a shift towards shorter very wet periods with more intense precipitation in the past twentieth century. There is also an indication of a general north to south-western declining precipitation gradient during the past ~ 69 years over this region. These findings are not only useful in explaining the historical evolution of observed extremes and their associated socio-economic impacts but also present a baseline for comparative follow-up studies assessing the twenty-first century and future trends in precipitation extreme events in the UMS.

Community assembly of adult odonates in lacustrine systems of an understudied world heritage site of south-eastern Zimbabwe

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are efficacious for management and conservation efforts in freshwaters. In recent times, increased effort has gone into enhancing awareness, data and information on dragonflies among scientists and policymakers. Here, we examined the Odonata community of dams within the Matobo National Park, a world heritage site in southern Zimbabwe. Specifically, we determined diversity of larval and adult odonate in five dams over one year. Several physico-chemical parameters were measured, including pH, total dissolved salts (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC). Further, we assessed how habitat types (i.e., detritus, sand, gravel, plant type) affect Odonata communities. In addition, surveys were conducted to identify critical threats to Odonata in the Matobo National Park and surrounding areas. Broadly, results showed that Odonata nymphs and volant adults did not change predictably across all sampling occasions. Further, pH was positively correlated with Libellulidae and Platycnemididae, whereas TDS and EC were positively correlated with Libellulidae, Platycnemididae and Macromiidae. Contrariwise, Gomphidae were found to be negatively correlated to TDS, EC and pH. The threat analyses identified natural system modifications, agricultural expansion and intensification, as well as human intrusions and disturbance as the major threats to Odonata and freshwater resources in Matobo National Park. Taken together, these data provide baseline data that will be useful for future monitoring of threats and subsequently conservation strategies in the Matobo National Park and other protected areas in Southern Africa.

Understanding the Traditional and Contemporary Purpose of the Njelele Rainmaking Shrine through the Oral Testimonies of Local People in Matobo

The Njelele shrine is located in the Matobo Hills, an area that has been declared a world heritage site. The site of the Njelele shrine is of paramount spiritual significance in Zimbabwe, and it is visited annually between August and September for ritual purposes just before the rain season begins. The rituals are not limited to rainmaking but also relate to, for example, asking for forgiveness after society’s wrongdoings and asking for cures for diseases. During the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, this shrine was consulted by politicians and liberation fighters, and, in contemporary times, war veterans still consult the Ngwali oracle. It is believed that many years ago a voice came from the Njelele rocks but that it has since disappeared because of the disrespect people have shown to the area. This article conveys the views of the local community about the traditional and contemporary purposes of the Njelele national shrine, and in so doing aims to provide some insight into these people’s views. It also looks at the diverse values that different interest groups attach to the site. The researcher mainly used oral testimonies as sources of information but also consulted some published sources.

The Rock Art of the Matobo Hills World Heritage Area, Zimbabwe: Management and Use, c 1800 to 2016

The Matobo Hills World Heritage Area in southern Zimbabwe is an acknowledged treasure trove of rock art sites. Despite a century of research and management, there remains much to be done to conserve these sites for future generations. Following a chronological approach, this paper reviews a century of research and conservation efforts, detailing various strategies and achievements by individuals, government agencies, and affiliated organisations. Zimbabwe’s recent economic collapse and ‘land reform’ programme had fundamental impacts on the appreciation and protection of the rock art sites by tourists, local communities, international organisations and government agencies, all of which are explored. The article ends with brief suggestions on how to potentially improve and expand the management of rock art in the Matobo Hills area.

Descola’s Model Of Religion and Nature Examined

Philippe Descola suggested a scheme to enumerate dispositions to nature in such a way as to take into account non-Western practices that tend to be overshadowed by the dominance of naturalism. He also deployed this scheme to account for other religious types in the world, which in the same manner tend to be obscured by Western Christianity. This article examines Descola’s ontological scheme in the light of the case of the Mwali cult in the Matobo Hills World Heritage Site in Zimbabwe. Data gathered through a protracted period of participant observation and interviews in Matobo Hills shows that instead of the fourfold scheme Descola proposes, his reference to incarnation and figuration is a more promising avenue in an attempt to account for religious forms and the various ways humans relate to their environments.

Canopy architecture and PAR absorption of Euphorbia cooperi in the Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe

Tree euphorbias share many traits with arborescent cacti in having tall and multi-branched forms of growth which have selective value for maximizing photosynthetic surface area and water storage. The candelabra growth form of Euphorbia cooperi, and likely other Euphorbia species with similar canopy architecture in southern Africa, allows these plants to add photosynthetic surface area as they grow and increase in size while at the same time minimizing problems of transpirational water loss. This increase in branch surface area occurs with age and increase in size and numbers of branches at the same time that the amount of potential storage volume to support water loss from this expanded surface area is also increasing. Key to this ability is the morphological trait of a heavily suberized trunk that increases with age, providing added capacity for water storage without adding to surface area subject to transpirational water loss. This trait and the associated canopy architecture allows the development of increasing surface area with minimal self-shading as new branches develop so long as older branches are shed. Beyond the canopy architecture, the cross-sectional morphology of branches in E. cooperi with concave faces has selective value in balancing increased surface area with maintenance of adequate storage volume. Simulated patterns of branch morphology with a square cross-sectional morphology show a “safe” result in producing little change in S:V ratio as plants mature, but at the expense of limiting photosynthetic surface area. At the other extreme, a simulated cross-sectional morphology with deep concave flutes, as seen in young plants, would significantly increase photosynthetic surface area, but at a potential cost of increased sensitivity to drought stress.

Analysing land cover and land use change in the Matobo National Park and surroundings in Zimbabwe

National parks are established to reduce human influence on nature and contribute to species conservation, biodiversity and ecological services. Other states of protection like the UNESCO world heritage sites, for example, are created for maintaining culturally important places or lifestyles. In the Matobo Hills (Zimbabwe) both states of protection are present, a national park and a world heritage site. In addition, the land outside the National Park belongs to two different systems of ownership, namely “common” (i.e. community-owned) and “not-common” (privately or governmentally owned) land.In this paper, we investigated how the state of protection and the ownership affected the land use and land cover. We derived maps using Landsat images from 1989, 1998 and 2014 by supervised classification with Random Forests. To compensate for the lack of ground data we inferred past land use and land cover from recent observations combining photographs, Google Earth images and change detection. We could identify four classes, namely shrub land, forest, patchy vegetation and agricultural area.The Matobo National Park showed a stable composition of land cover during the study period and the main changes were observable in the surroundings. Outside the national park, forest increased by about 7%. The common lands have changed substantially and their agricultural area decreased. We attribute this development to the Fast Track Land Reform, which took place in the early 2000s. Our approach shows that combining information on recent land cover with change detection allows to study the temporal development of protected areas.

The epidemiology of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) and contribution to cattle losses in farms around Rhodes Matopos National Park, Zimbabwe.

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal viral disease of cattle prevalent in farms bordering wildlife conservancies and national parks where cattle and wildebeests cohabit. The behaviour of the diseases and its related contribution to cattle mortalities has been poorly studied in the smallholder sector. A study was therefore conducted to established trends of occurrence and contribution to animal losses in 97 smallholder farms and eight commercial farms bordering Rhodes Matopos National Park (RMNP). A structured questionnaire and secondary records were used to gather the data in the smallholder and commercial farms, respectively. In the smallholder sector, cattle farmers from three villages were chosen as respondents in a survey to provide information on the impact and extent of losses in their cattle herds. Epidemiological data from January 2006 to April 2014 was extracted from farm records from two Matopos Research Institute farms. A seasonal pattern in MCF occurrence was observed. Most cattle mortalities were recorded during summer (February to May), with highest mortalities recorded from March to April. Sporadic cases were however recorded in October and November in year 2007, 2010, and 2012. The study further revealed that MCF caused 71 and 21% of cattle mortalities in the commercial and smallholder sector, respectively. Deferred grazing of wildebeest hotspots by restriction of cattle movement during summer or November to April period avoids wildebeest-cattle contact. This can alleviate cattle mortalities due to MCF.

Fluctuations in bush and rock Hyrax (Hyracoidea: Procaviidae) Abundances Over a 13-Year Period in the Matopos, Zimbabwe

Bush (Heterohyrax brucei) and rock (Procavia capensis) hyraxes (Hyracoidea: Procaviidae) are abundant small mammals and important prey for vertebrate carnivores in the Rhodes Matopos National Park (RMNP), southwestern Zimbabwe. We monitored hyraxes at 20 observation stations in the 424 km2 RMNP over a 13-year period (1993–2005). We identified hyraxes to species, and counted and aged them. From yearly counts and age distributions, we computed an index of relative abundance (AI - individuals/km2) and estimate of productivity (proportion of the sample comprising juveniles) for each species. Time series analysis showed that annual fluctuations in AI were marked, but not cyclic, with ranges of 0.4–113.8% (median = 30.0%) for Heterohyrax brucei and 3.7–64.7% (median = 11.0%) for Procavia capensis. Cross-correlation function revealed interspecific synchrony in annual fluctuation in numbers of individuals of the two species. A positive relationship existed between AI of H. brucei and rainfall of the previous aust...

Live weight estimation in the indigenous matebele goats using the heart girth circumference

This study was carried out to determine if the heart girth can be used effectively to estimate live body weights of the indigenous Matebele goats and help in the development of a heart girth measuring weigh belt. This is aimed at addressing the challenges that farmers face in determining the weight of their goats since they are not able to purchase their own scales. Data was collected using a weighing scale and an ordinary measuring tape from 625 Matebele goats from Matopos Research Institute. The average weight of live animals was 28.8kg. The regression coefficient of the heart girth measured against the body weight was found to be 0.77 and a coefficient of determination of 0.99 indicating a good model and strong relationship between the two variables. This shows that the heart girth can be used in predicting body weight in goats and this is a cost effective, quick and practical way of weight estimation. The live body weight can be estimated using the model: Live weight (LW) = Heart girth circumference (H) 0.77 .

Breeding Density of the Southern Ground Hornbill,Bucorvus leadbeateri, in the Communal Areas Surrounding the Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe

The southern ground hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri, is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a ‘Vulnerable’ species with a decreasing population. Despite a myriad of threats, including loss of nesting sites, accidental poisoning and persecution, there has been no detailed study of the southern ground hornbill in Zimbabwe.We collected data on nest sites and usage for 42 nests over three breeding seasons in the communal areas surrounding the Matobo National Park. For the active nests in the breeding seasons of 2008/9 and 2009/10 the mean nearest neighbour distances were 4.41 km and 3.53 km, respectively. Most nests were found in granite crevices (67%) while the remainder were found in five different tree species. Most nests (90%) were in areas of subsistence crop farming, the remainder (10%) were found in forests and open savannas. The high breeding density of the southern ground hornbill in the communal areas surrounding the Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe could be attributed in part to traditiona...

Breeding density of the southern ground hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri, in the communal areas surrounding the Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe

The southern ground hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri, is on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as a ‘Vulnerable’ species with a decreasing population. Despite a myriad of threats, including loss of nesting sites, accidental poisoning and persecution, there has been no detailed study of the southern ground hornbill in Zimbabwe. We collected data on nest sites and usage for 42 nests over three breeding seasons in the communal areas surrounding the Matobo National Park. For the active nests in the breeding seasons of 2008/9 and 2009/10 the mean nearest neighbour distances were 4.41 km and 3.53 km, respectively. Most nests were found in granite crevices (67%) while the remainder were found in five different tree species. Most nests (90%) were in areas of subsistence crop farming, the remainder (10%) were found in forests and open savannas. The high breeding density of the southern ground hornbill in the communal areas surrounding the Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe could be attributed in part to traditional Ndebele culture which, for the most part, protects this species. Food also appears to be relatively abundant under communal farming conditions.

Exploiting genotype x environment interaction in maize breeding in Zimbabwe

Agriseeds company produces several hybrids yearly. These hybrids need to be evaluated for yield stability before release. In this study, fifty-eight newly developed hybrids were planted at five sites and evaluated for grain yield and other traits. The objective was to assess the stability of Agriseeds hybrids in Zimbabwe and to identify strategies of minimizing evaluation cost of hybrids in multi-locations. Across site, analysis of variance indicated significant differences (p<0.001) in grain yield, days to silking, days to anthesis and anthesis-silking interval on genotypes, environments and genotype × environment interactions (GEI). Stable hybrids were 10A3WH04 (6.7 tha-1) and 10A3WH24 (6.7 tha-1) while hybrid 10A3WH03 (6.5 tha-1) showed specific adaptability. Since all the evaluation sites fell into one mega-environment, a few representative sites with a few replications will be ideal to capture much of the variance due to GEI. Furthermore, Agriseeds should not establish separate breeding programmes for these environments. Rather, suitable culling and discriminating environments must be captured in few sites to be utilized and these sites are Harare, Gwebi and any one of Kadoma, Matopos and Shamwa. Key words: Zea mays L., Genotype × environment interactions, grain yield, bi-plots, stability analysis.

Empty Promises and False Hopes

Before the advent of colonialism in Zimbabwe the cultural heritage landscape of Matobo Hills in southwestern Zimbabwe was managed by traditional methods. These traditional methods were enforced by traditional leaders and were observed by their subjects. However, with the coming of colonialism, new modern methods of managing the cultural landscape were introduced by the colonial government. These laws, which were Eurocentric in approach, sidelined the local communities from managing and benefiting from their cultural landscape. Efforts by the indigenous communities were made during the colonial period to impede the introduction of the new laws, but when this failed it culminated in a war of liberation, which ended in 1980. With the new Zimbabwean government, the people of Matobo had hoped that their grievances would be addressed. However, the new Zimbabwean government has failed to address these issues three decades after independence. This has incensed the Matobo people and the area has become a contested landscape.

Why Njelele, a Rainmaking Shrine in the Matobo World Heritage Area, Zimbabwe, Has Not Been Proclaimed a National Monument

Njelele, a rainmaking shrine on the southwestern fringes of Zimbabwe’s Matobo National Park, has not been proclaimed a national monument in spite of being one of the most important cultural heritage places in southern Africa. The initial motivation for proclaiming Njelele a national monument emanated, in part, from contests for recognition of spiritual status and thus control of Njelele by members of local indigenous communities. Control over Njelele also has been a source of conflict between the local people and government departments since at least the 1960s. I contend that neither colonial administrators nor post-liberation politicians, who consulted the oracle at Njelele at the height of the country’s liberation struggle, could bring about national monument status for Njelele because it embodied the diverse values of several interest groups.

A synoptic model of animal space use: Simultaneous estimation of home range, habitat selection, and inter/intra-specific relationships

We propose a simple multivariate model for describing and understanding animal space use that estimates an animal's probability of occurrence as an explicit function of the animal's association with a fixed spatial area (i.e., home range), the spatial distribution of resources within that area, and the occurrence of other animals. We begin with a null model of space use to describe an animal's utilization distribution in the absence of effects from environmental covariates. We then use this null model as the foundation for a set of candidate models of space use that incorporate different combinations of environmental covariates where each model is chosen to reflect various hypotheses about important drivers of space use. Models are parameterized via maximum likelihood using location data collected from individuals at discrete times (e.g., telemetry) and spatially explicit environmental covariates. Information theoretic criteria are used to select the model(s) with most support from the data. The best model(s) is then used for both estimating the animal's home range and for inferring the relative importance of various environmental factors on space use. As an example, we applied our approach using male white rhino ( Ceratotherium simum) location data collected in Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe. The best synoptic model was able to capture the complexities of the utilization distribution while the model structure and parameter estimates provided a basis to infer the importance of various ecological factors affecting male rhino space use.

Black Eagles and hyraxes — the two flagship species in the conservation of wildlife in the Matobo Hills, Zimbabwe

The Black Eagle (Aquila verreauxii) in the Matobo National Park is heavily dependent on two hyrax species, which form 98% of the diet. This raptor has been the subject of study in the Matobo Hills for the past 45 years. Its two main prey species, the Yellow-spotted Hyrax (Heterohyrax brucei) and the Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis), have been under study for the past 13 years. There are three categories of land use in the Matobo Hills — national park, commercial farmland and communal land — and therefore varying levels of protection for the raptor and its prey. Local communities within the Matobo Hills depend on the hyrax as their main source of protein. This heavy utilisation has lead to population declines in both the prey (hyrax) and the raptor in some areas. In an effort to reverse or reduce this imbalance, since 1995 wildlife conservation education programmes have been introduced, focusing on 21 schools immediately surrounding the Matobo National Park. This educational programme is aimed at conserving not only the Black Eagle and hyraxes but the whole biodiversity of the hills.

Implications of assumption violation in density estimates of antelope from dung‐heap counts: a case study on grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) in Zimbabwe

AbstractDung‐heap counts were used to estimate density of grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia Linnaeus 1758) in the Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe. To test assumptions of this method, defecation rate and defecation site selection were investigated under captive and field conditions, and densities were compared with independent estimates derived from territory mapping. Many assumptions were violated: males defecated more frequently than females with mean dry mass per deposit greater in females, but total daily faecal production was similar between sexes. Spatial distribution of faeces was clumped, and 52.8% of locations contained multiple deposits. Duikers exhibited habitat type preferences (i.e. low‐ to medium‐density woodland) with herbaceous layer heights 40–100 cm and visibility &gt;20 m. Calculated grey duiker density from dung‐heap counts in cleared plots was 9.7 ± 1.3 animals km−2, approximately double the territory‐mapping estimate based on Minimum Convex Polygons (5.13 animals km−2) but similar to the 75% Fixed Kernel estimate (10.95 animals km−2). Provided that sex ratios approach parity and sampled area is representative of all utilized habitats, violation of basic assumptions of the dung‐heap count method has a minor effect on density estimate accuracy.