Rwizikuru

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Kingdom of Rwizikuru Rwizi: Humambo hweRwizikuru
Flag of Rwizikuru Flag Coat of arms of Rwizikuru Coat of arms
Motto: Unity in Trinity
Anthem: O Rwizikuru, land of glory
Land controlled by Rwizikuru (green) Land controlled by Rwizikuru (green)
Capital	Guta raMambo
Largest city	Port Fitzhubert
Official languages	Estmerish Rwizi
Recognised regional languages	Gaullican Molisa
Ethnic groups (2011)	Rwizi (58%) Other Bahians (40%) Others (2%)
Religion (2011)	Sotirianity (76%) Badi (16%) Irfan (7%) Others (1%)
Demonym(s)	Rwizikuran
Government	Constitutional monarchy
• King	Munashe Ngonidzashe
• Premier	Tsuru Mawere
Independence
• From Estmere	2 December, 1946
Area
• Total	560,183.143 km2 (216,287.921 sq mi)
Population
• 2011 census	38,903,392
• Density	69.447595/km2 (179.9/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	$76,484,068,672
• Per capita	$1,966
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$41,548,822,656
• Per capita	$1,068
Gini (2015)	57.1 high
HDI (2019)	0.570 medium
Currency	Rwizikuran shilling (ſ) (RZH)
Time zone	+3:45
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+25
ISO 3166 code	RZK
Internet TLD	.rz

Rwizikuru (/ri:zi’ku:ru:/) is a country located in the Bahia subcontinent of the Coius continent, bordered by Mabifia to the west, Yemet to the north, and Garambura to the east, and abuts the Maccan Sea to the south, sharing maritime borders with North and South Kabu. Its capital is Guta raMambo, although the largest city and main commercial centre of the country is in Port Fitzhubert.

Beginning in the twelfth century, the Rwizi Empire rose in what is now Munzwa, and were often in conflict with the Founagé Dominion of Heaven, and later, the Kambou Empire. From the seventeenth century onwards, Estmere began to establish trading posts, with slaves being imported to the Estmerish Empire from these trading posts, while the Rwizi Empire was destroyed by the Kambou Empire, causing a short-lived rule by the Mabifians before dissolving into a bunch of minor states, such as Randaland. With the end of the slave trade in 1741, Estmere would struggle to find a use for present-day Rwizikuru before transferring control of the area to the Saint Geoffrey's Company in 1803. Company rule would continue until 1863, when Charles Fitzhubert re-established direct Estmerish rule over present-day Rwizikuru.

Estmerish rule continued until the 1940s, surviving the Great War and the end of the Estmerish monarchy, when with increasing tensions between the Rwizikuran National Movement and the colonial authorities, the colonial authorities attempted to establish limited self-governance. After elections in 1945, the RNM negotiated for independence from Estmere, which was granted after the end of the Solarian War on 2 December, 1946, as the Republic of Rwizikuru. The Republic was dissolved in 1968 by Izibongo Ngonidzashe, and replaced with an absolute monarchy which lasted until a new constitution was instituted in early 2020 under international pressure by the current monarch, Munashe Ngonidzashe.

Etymology

The name Rwizikuru derives from the Rwizi word for "great river," rwizi rukuru, which also lends its name to the Rwizikuru River. The name was first used to describe the country by Charles Fitzhubert in the 1860s, although it was transcribed as Riziland due to the difficulties of pronouncing the "rw" sound by Estmerish settlers to Rwizikuru.

However, the spelling of Rwizikuru that is more widely used today first gained popularity in 1937 by nationalist leaders Samhuri Ngonidzashe and Shungudzemwoyo Nhema when they created the Rwizikuran National Movement, choosing the "rw" spelling as it was how the river was named in the Rwizi language. Over the next few years, that spelling gained movement among those opposed to Estmerish rule over Rwizikuru, until by the 1940s, it was formally adopted by the first President of Rwizikuru, Samhuri Ngonidzashe, as opposed to the "colonial name."

History

Prehistory

Zambuko man

As one of the regions closest to the Boual ka Bifie, which is generally accepted to be where homo sapiens first arisen, present-day Rwizikuru was one of the first places outside of present-day Yemet and Mabifia to host modern humans, with fossils near present-day Zambuko dating back between 100,000 and 250,000 years ago, including the Zambuko man.

By around 80,000 years ago, all of present-day Rwizikuru was inhabited by modern humans, with evidence of stone tools being found across the country. It is believed by anthropologists and archaeologists that the first humans in Rwizikuru were hunter-gatherers, like all other human species at that time, and organized themselves into camp societies, with some speculating that the practice of foujodel, or a form of direct democracy, may have its origins in camp societies. Like other humans, the inhabitants of present-day Rwizikuru lived in caves, with evidence of cave paintings being found in the mountains regions of present-day Rwizikuru.

Around 10,000 years before present, small-scale agriculture began to take place, particularly among rivers, and villages began to be established. However, these villages were no larger than 1,000 people, and were largely self-contained entities, exhibiting some aspects of the village system, but were generally not seen as being part of a common civilisation like the Mavirazuva River culture.

Precolonial rule

Ruins of Old Munzwa, 1996

Main article: Rwizi Empire

The earliest recorded civilisation to rise in present-day Rwizikuru are the Mavirazuva River culture, which first arose around 5,000 years before present in present-day Tawedzegwa. The Mavirazuva River culture exhibited some aspects of the village system which would later become prevalent across Bahia, particularly a village-based system, agriculture, and exhibited beliefs which some archaeologists claim was a precursor to fetishism, although this is highly debated among historians. Around 3,500 to 4,000 years ago, the Zambuko culture arose in present-day Zambuko. While the Zambuko culture shared some similarities with the Mavirazuva River culture, such as the usage of the village system, and the Stone Age technology, archaeologists have discovered substantial caches of pottery belonging to the Zambuko culture. Around 3,000 years ago, the Zambuko culture appears to have conquered the Mavirazuva River culture, with artefacts from the Mavirazuva River culture ceasing to appear at that point.

The Oulumes begin to migrate into present-day Rwizikuru between 500 and 1000 BCE, conquering swathes of territory controlled by the Zambuko culture. This led to the rise of the Oulume Chikuhwa culture, after the present-day settlement of Chikuhwa, where the first artefacts were found. While the Chikuhwa culture, like the preceding Mavirazuva River and Zambuko cultures, initially used stone age technology, the introduction of copper and iron smelting helped give the Chikuhwa culture an edge. As well, the Chikuhwa culture is distinguished from its predecessors by Oulume-style pottery and weaponry, as well as religious practices which are roughly similar to what would become Bahian fetishism. However, the Chikuhwa culture collapsed around the first century BCE and the third century CE, with archaeologists believing that the Chikuhwa culture collapsed due to conquest by other Oulume groups, who would be the ancestors of the Rwizi people, although Chikuhwa-style artefacts continue to be found as late as the sixth century CE, suggesting that they survived as a class of their own under the ruling class up until that point, when they ended up being assimilated.

However, by this point in time, the village system was in decline, particularly as villages expanded into Mijinis, enabling the establishment of a transitional system of relations. From around the tenth century CE, the system of Masimbe, commonly known as Hourege, spread across present-day Rwizikuru, as it was seen as a way to protect the fetishist regions of Bahia from Irfanic conquest, as had happened under the Founagé Dominion of Heaven, which at its peak controlled parts of present-day Rwizikuru. By 1160 CE, the Rwizi Empire was established, and quickly emerged as the main axial houregery in the region, competing against the neighbouring Kingdom of Kambou, particularly over Inkiko, or as it is known in Rwizi, Yekumavirira.

During the Bahian Golden Age in the fifteenth century, the capital of the Rwizi Empire, Munzwa emerged as one of the major centres of learning in the subcontinent, particularly under Emperor Chamunorwa, while the Rwizi Empire exerted control over much of eastern Bahia. However, by the middle of the sixteenth century, despite its role in shaping the Contestations of the Elders, it was losing control of its vassals to the Kambou Empire to the west, and the TBD to the north to tetere, leading to instability, which led the Rwizi Empire into a vicious cycle, further perpetuated by the conquest of much of the coastal regions by the Aguda Empire, until by 1655, the Kambou Empire conquered Munzwa and ransacked the city.

With the Kambou Empire shortly after abandoning control over Munzwa as they faced internal problems of their own, and the Aguda Empire's rule receding over the areas it controlled, the area of present-day Rwizikuru embraced the second consolidation, as the village system once again became the dominant form of governance in the region, with some exceptions like the Kingdom of Randaland, centred in present-day Randaland. While there were efforts by the villages to recreate the Rwizi Empire, by conquering other villages and enslaving them, these efforts were of limited success, particularly after slavery was abolished by the Euclean powers by the end of the eighteenth century, which greatly impoverished the communities.

Company rule

Fort Graham in Port Graham, 1998

In 1638, the Estmere-based Saint Geoffrey's Company established a fort in what is now Port Graham, after signing an agreement with the Aguda Empire to allow the establishment of a fort to facilitate trade: in exchange for supplying slaves, the Estmerish would supply the Rwizi with weapons to help fend off the Kambou Empire.

Over the next few decades, the presence of the Saint Geoffrey's Company grew, as it sought to trade with native Bahian states in the area. By 1680, the Saint Geoffrey's Company operated as far east as present-day Chekumabvazuva, and as far west as (TBC), which exported slaves to the island of Kingsport, where they were processed and shipped to other Estmerish colonies in the Asterias, as part of the broader slave trade across the Vehemens.

However, the outbreak of the Ten Years' War led to the Saint Geoffrey's Company losing ground to the Gaullican-based Saint Bermude's Company, while the loss of most of Estmere's possessions in the Asterias led to the Saint Geoffrey's Company closing forts. Thus, by 1721, the only fort in present-day Rwizikuru still operated by the Saint Geoffrey's Company was the fort in Port Graham.

By the 1740s, Estmere began to re-establish itself on the world stage, and abolished the slave trade in its territories in 1741. The ban damaged the Saint Geoffrey's Company as it was reliant on the slave trade, leading to the company neglecting Fort Graham in favour of its more "profitable possessions" in Mount Palmerston and the Carolinian Islands. However, after Estmere retook the Colony of Imagua in 1771, the Saint Geofrey's Company began to repatriate Bahio-Asterians who wanted to return to Bahia or those who were liberated from slave ships to the Rwizikuran coast. Over the next seventy-five years, the Freemen community would develop, especially in the settlements of Bencombe, Shaw, and Saint Geoffrey's, with Saint Geoffrey's replacing Fort Graham as its centre of Bahian operations in 1803.

However, fears of Gaullican expansionism, and the growing inability of the Saint Geoffrey's Company to trade in the nineteenth century led to the Estmerish government taking direct control in 1853.

Direct rule

Construction of the Rusere-Port Fitzhubert railway, c. 1900

In 1863, the authorities in Morwall revoked the charter of the Saint Geoffrey's Company, and enlisted Charles Fitzhubert with a task to re-establish a "permanent Estmerish foothold" in Bahia. Thus, with him and 250 soldiers, by October, he established Port Fitzhubert, and deemed it the colonial capital. Over the next few years, he and his soldiers fought with the natives around Port Fitzhubert and present-day Chekumabvazuva to recognize the land. By 1865, however, he and his men established a presence in the area, and named the new territory Riziland, after the Rwizikuru River.

With the conquest of Port Fitzhubert, the Estmerish began to not only invest in infrastructure and education, but also sought to retake the "lost forts." Thus, over the next ten years, Fitzhubert and other Estmerish officials led expeditions to retake the cities of Rutendo, Mangwende, and Port Graham from the natives, and re-establish Estmerish rule. By 1875, they had control of Riziland's coast east of the Muganhu River, which separated it from the Gaullican colony of Quigomba.

However, it became clear to the Estmerish that as it was largely surrounded by Gaullican colonies, they feared that having Gaullica control the plateau would make the colony vulnerable to attack on all three sides. Thus, from 1882-1884, the Estmerish forces expanded into the Plateau, establishing the town of Crogan, and conquering Munzwa, fighting against the Verizi Empire in the Estmero-Verizi War, at the same time that the Bahian Mutiny was taking place in the Gaullican colonies. By 1897, Riziland had reached its current borders, except the lands west of the Muganhu River, which remained under Gaullican rule. In 1899, copper was discovered near present-day Rusere.

In the early 20th century, under Governor Dugald Harpham, he invested heavily in developing the colony. A railway network was constructed, with the first line completed in 1902 connecting the copper mines at Rusere to Port Fitzhubert. In addition, he sought to develop a "modern" education system, along Estmerish lines, and to attempt to entice Estmerish farmers to move to the Plateau to establish farms, although the last one did not fare as well, with the 1911 census only registering 34,607 white people, most of whom lived in Port Fitzhubert, though some coffee plantations existed on the Plateau. However, one of Harpham's most lasting legacies was the establishment of the hill station of Donston.

When the economic depression hit Riziland in 1915, the colonial economy suffered dramatically, as its economy was dominated by exports of copper and coffee. Many mines closed down, while many of the coffee plantations were abandoned by their white owners, which led to substantial unemployment, primarily because many other jobs depended on these sectors. This fueled increasing unrest, which culminated in the riots in Port Fitzhubert in 1921.

By the start of the Great War in 1927, Riziland found itself surrounded by Gaullican colonies, which placed it in a vulnerable position. While Gaullica made inroads into western Riziland, the conquest of the upper regions of Baséland (present-day Garambura) and parts of Haute-Gond by Weranian forces based in Silberküste (present-day Maucha) that same year meant Riziland remained under Estmerish control until the colonial government surrendered in 1929 following the fall of Morwall.

The following year, a Weranian offensive from Silberküste led to the liberation of eastern Riziland. In 1931, Port Fitzhubert was liberated, and by 1932, Riziland was fully liberated. Despite some setbacks in 1933, with western Riziland falling to Gaullican forces, by 1934, Riziland was permanently liberated from Gaullican control, with Weranian forces and local military units going so far as to conquer Inkiko and surrounding regions.

Self-government

Port Fitzhubert in the late 1930s

Following the conclusion of the Great War, Riziland was now bordered by the Estmerish mandates of East Riziland and the Mandate of Kigomba to its east and west, and by the Weranian mandate of Obergond. However, the Great War took a substantial toll on Estmere, which led Morwall to commit to giving Riziland independence within the Empire within ten years.

Thus, in 1937, elections for a eighteen-member Legislative Council were held, with eight seats assigned to the white population (Chennois and varungu), and eight seats assigned to the native population (including Freemen and Mirites, but excluding those residing in the mandates). Two seats were assigned for the mandates but were unable to vote in the Legislative Council. The elections saw the varungu-dominated Sotirian Democratic Party take five of the eight white seats, while the Movement for the Advancement of Bahians in Riziland took seven of the eight black seats.

After coalition formation talks with the Chennois-dominated Conservative and the Bahian Liberals, Byron Wigram was sworn as the first Chief Minister of Riziland. During his tenure, Byron Wigram oversaw the construction of infrastructure to connect the mandates with "Riziland proper," and made Gaullican co-official with Estmerish. In addition, he instituted the New Longwoodshire Settlement Scheme to attract Estmerish settlers to Akortu-held lands, to strengthen colonial control over the periphery, which led to the beginning of an insurgency that continues to this day.

In 1941, the Conservatives won five seats to the SDP's two, and the New National Party's one, while the Rwizikuran National Movement entered the National Assembly for the first time. Following negotiations, Conservative Jean-Louis Milhaud succeeded him as Chief Minister. Under Milhaud's leadership, he made Rwizi co-official, participated in the Solarian War with Estmere, and in 1944 introduced universal healthcare. At the same time, the Conservatives and the Sotirian Democrats began plans to merge, as the Chennois and varungu communities felt that if they kept fighting, "the native would divide us." Thus, in 1944, the two parties merged to form the United Party.

In 1945, the United Party won five seats to the National Party's three, while the Movement for the Advancement of Bahians won six seats, and the Rwizikuran National Movement won two. With Milhaud refusing to form a coalition with "the incorrigible racists" in the New National Party, he formed a coalition with Zophar Bohannon of the Movement for the Advancement of Bahians, who would become the first and only Bahian Chief Minister in Riziland.

Bohannon focused on preparations for Rizilander independence, with Bohannon vowing to create "a multiracial and sovereign Riziland." To this end, he began drafting a constitution, and to ensure that the mandates of Kigomba and East Riziland were attached to the colony. In 1946, with Estmere prepared to give Rwizikuru independence, the constitution was approved, and elections were scheduled to be held on 24 September, which saw the Movement for the Advancement of Bahians win the most seats, and won the Presidency, with Bohannon scheduled to become the first President.

Republic

Zophar Bohannon, 1946

On 2 December, 1946, Zophar Bohannon, leader of the Movement for the Advancement of Bahians in Riziland, was inaugurated as the first president of an independent Rwizikuru. During his term, he began to institute policies to improve the infrastructure to connect the cities of Sainte-Germaine (present-day Mambiza), Port Fitzhubert, Port Graham, and Port Vaugeois (present-day Port Musabyimana) by both road and by improving the telegraph and phone lines between those three cities. He sought to maintain a positive relationship with the Chennois, Freemen, Mirite and varungu communities, and maintained close ties with Estmere, with Estmerish, Gaullican, and Rwizi. However, from the start of his rule, he faced opposition from the Barobyi population in Yekumavirira, led by Ntare Musabyimana, started opposing Bohannon's policies, and established the Yekumavirira Liberation Movement to advocate for Yekumaviriran autonomy within Rwizikuru. In 1951, a compromise was achieved, where infant schools in Yekumavirira were allowed to teach in Kirobyi.

In 1954, as Zophar Bohannon reached his term limit under the Rwizikuran constitution, he endorsed his Vice-President, Alistair Perry, to succeed him. Despite efforts by Alistair Perry to maintain Bohannon's policies, he was succeeded by Vudzijena Nhema of the Rwizikuran National Movement (MRR), who assumed office on 2 December, 1954, as many voters feared that Perry would "restore murungocracy over Rwizikuru."

Unlike his predecessor, Nhema instituted principles of Valduvian governance, with political parties being abolished in 1955, although he emphasized a "Bahian approach to socialism," and did not take large action against the white and Mirite populations inhabiting the country. As well, he promoted Rwizi nationalism, to an extent that Estmerish and Gaullican was all but dropped from the curriculum, and students focused on learning a Rwizi-centric history. However, his focus to centralize the country only served to embolden the Yekumavirira Liberation Movement, which caused Nhema in 1960 to extend term limits to three terms, as opposed to two. Nhema also instituted socialist economic policies, leading to economic decline, particularly as Nhema nationalised various industries.

By 1958, government loyalists won all of the seats in the state legislature, and Vudzijena Nhema won 79.7% of the vote in an election judged to be not free. In his second term, he allowed people to be given "vacant land" owned by "expatriate landlords," with the idea of ensuring that "Rwizikuran land would belong to the Rwizi people" in 1960. The same year, Rwizikuru and Maucha founded the United Bahian Republic. However, as instability grew in Yekumavirira, Nhema became more authoritarian, with his authoritarianism culminating in the passage of the fifth amendment in 1961, which allowed Nhema to run for a third term.

After being re-elected in elections widely deemed to be fraudulent in 1962 with 99.8% of the vote, Nhema was overthrown the following year by the Rwizikuran Armed Forces while attending an AESE conference. Initially, his vice-president, Pierre-Ardachir Niyonzima was appointed President, but was himself overthrown the following year after refusing to leaving the United Bahian Republic. Thus, the military set up the National Salvation Council, led by Izibongo Ngonidzashe, who suspended the constitution in favour of martial law.

Economically, Izibongo Ngonidzashe sought to return to a "more traditional economic system," arguing that socialism, with its roots in Euclea, was fundamentally "at odds" with traditional Rwizi values. Thus, he halted all progress towards socialism, and began to undo the "socialist policies" of the Rwizikuran Republic, as well as purged many socialists. Socially, he cracked down on the Barobyi population, as he viewed them as a threat to the stability of Rwizikuru. This led to protests which culminated in the Port Vaugeois massacre, which killed 22 people, and to a subsequent declaration of an armed struggle by the Yekumavirira Liberation Movement.

By 1968, there was little opposition left inside the Rwizikuran government, with Izibongo becoming the undisputed ruler of Rwizikuru.

Absolute monarchy

Izibongo Ngonidzashe, 1983

By 1968, Izibongo Ngonidzashe had solidified his position to such an extent that there was little justification for maintaining the National Salvation Council. With no real opposition in Rwizikuru's government, Izibongo Ngonidzashe was able to institute his plans to establish a Rwizikuran monarchy, justifying it by saying that "the Rwizikuran republic was entirely an Euclean innovation, with no basis in traditional Rwizi society."

Thus, on 1 June, 1968, in Port Fitzhubert, he was crowned King in a traditional Bahian-style ceremony. The Basic Law of Rwizikuru was established, which replaced the constitution, and officially made Rwizikuru an absolute monarchy. As he was now the sole authority of the country, Izibongo started to exhibit more authoritarian tendencies, while relations between him and other Bahian states deteriorated.

Tensions exploded when after rejecting an ultimatum by the Mabifian government, the Mabifian government attacked Yekumavirira on 6 October, 1968. Despite Rwizikuru having a larger army, the tactics of the Mabifian armed forces and the support of Mabifia's invasion by many Barobyi helped give an advantage to the Mabifians.

After the disastrous Battle of Port Vaugeois in January 1969, which all but destroyed the Royal Rwizikuran Army, the Mabifian forces took over most of Yekumavirira, and by March, the Rwizikurans were forced to sue for peace in Snarksburgh, Caldia, where the Treaty of Snarksburgh was signed ending the war, allocating the land on the principle of uti possidetis, meaning that only a small portion of Yekumavirira remained under Rwizikuran control, with the rest being handed over to Mabifia. At around that same time, taking advantage of the Mabifian-Rwizikuran War, Garambura declared independence, and after a disastrous defeat in April 1969, Izibongo Ngonidzashe was forced to sue for peace. He would spend the next several years rebuilding the Royal Rwizikuran Armed Forces, before attacking Garambura alongside Maucha in the Nativity War in 1974, leading to a nearly two-year long war between Rwizikuru and Garambura, which ended with a CN-mandated peace.

In 1978, the capital was moved from Port Fitzhubert to Guta raMambo, due to its centrality, defensability, and to promote "national unity." The following year, Izibongo Ngonidzashe would formally establish relations with Garambura, and permitted the Rwizikuran Information Service to begin television broadcasts. This was followed by economic liberalisation, leading to a substantial reduction of regulations in 1980.

However, on 22 December, 1981, Izibongo's brother, Muchazvireva Ngonidzashe launched an abortive coup d'etat. When the coup failed, Izibongo responded by holding a show trial and executing Muchazvireva, as well as stripping him and his descendants of their place in the line of succession, and began to purge the Royal Rwizikuran Army of officers supportive of Muchazvireva Ngonidzashe.

This attempted coup d'etat only hastened Izibongo to further intensify his reforms, but it was hindered by the rampant corruption that existed in Rwizikuru. Thus, in 1988, he signed the first agreement with the Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs to obtain a loan of ten million reichsmarks in exchange for the country undergoing structural adjustment, and prosecuting all corrupt officials.

While these policies were initially effective, with three thousand government employees found guilty of corruption and stripped of their offices between 1988 and 1995, by the mid-1990s, these policies have petered out, and by 1999, corruption levels returned to their pre-1988 levels.

In the 2000s, Izibongo Ngonidzashe signed agreements with many countries to allow their corporations to extract resources from Rwizikuru in exchange for constructing the nation's infrastructure, culminating in Rwizikuru joining the Council for Mutual Development. While the wealth may have been used to benefit the nation, most of it was taken by the royal family. By the 2010s, the knowledge of Rwizikuru's corruption had again increased, leading to Rwizikuru receiving less and less aid.

Contemporary era

Tsuru Mawere, 2020

Due to Izibongo Ngonidzashe's deteriorating health, he named his eldest surviving son, Munashe Ngonidzashe, as regent in June 2016. During Munashe's regency, he began to implement some reforms to tackle Rwizikuru's corruption and to improve the Rwizikuran education system. This would culminate in Munashe authorizing the Rwizikuran government to begin negotiations with the Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs to secure a second loan in late 2018, in order to address the corruption Rwizikuru had been facing. However, as regent, Munashe's powers were somewhat limited, and his primary role was to serve as the representative of his father.

After his father's death on 21 February, 2019, Munashe Ngonidzashe became King of Rwizikuru, and following his coronation on 1 June, 2019, Munashe Ngonidzashe began to further his reforms: in September of that year, he signed a second agreement with the Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs, which provided him a loan of one hundred million euclos, in exchange for the monarch ceding his government's financial powers to "an elected body." Thus, on 2 August, 2019, he announced plans for a constitutional convention to establish a constitutional monarchy. The new constitution took away most of the King's powers and transfered it to an elected National Assembly.

After the new constitution was adopted in January 2020, elections were held for the reconstituted National Assembly in April: shortly after the elections were held, Tsuru Mawere was elected by the National Assembly as the first Premier of Rwizikuru. This amde him the first head of government elected in a free and fair election since 1954, when Vudzijena Nhema was elected as President.

Under Mawere's premiership, Mawere has increased Rwizikuru's ties with the International Forum for Developing States, and continued Rwizikuru's economic liberalisation that Izibongo and Munashe have followed, allowing firms from the Council for Mutual Development, the Euclean Community, and the International Forum for Developing States to invest in Rwizikuru.

However, Mawere launched a military intervention into Yemet in late 2021 following the outbreak of the Second Yemeti Civil War to fight against the Akortu National Salvation Army. This was followed by what the Rwizikuran government called a counter-terrorism mission in the Northern Territory, which has led to significant human rights violations against Akortu in both Rwizikuru and Yemet by the Royal Rwizikuran Armed Forces, as well as renewed conflict in the Northern Territory between the Akortu National Salvation Army and the Rwizikuran military.

Geography

File:RwiziTopoMap.png

Topographic map of Rwizikuru

Rwizikuru is a medium-sized country located in the Bahia subcontinent, which is in turn part of a larger continent, Coius, and abuts the Maccan Sea, which is part of the Vehemens Ocean. It shares land borders with Mabifia to the west, Yemet to the north, and Garambura to the east, and maritime borders with both North Kabu and South Kabu in the south.

Rwizikuru is geographically divided into three regions. Most of the population resides in the Plains region (Rwizi: mapani), which is situated on the coast of Rwizikuru, and is one of the most fertile regions of the country, although it is home to much of Rwizikuru's timber industry. It is one of the hottest and most humid regions in the country, with a equatorial climate as a consequence of its elevation and location.

North of the Plains region lies the Plateau region (Rwizi: mapango), which is primarily situated west of the Rwizikuru River, and situated between the Plains and the Ambakaran Mountains to its north. While it is not as fertile as the Plains, the Plateau still is substantially productive, allowing it to host commercial farms exporting cash crops. In addition, much of Rwizikuru's coltan can be found there. It has a tropical monsoon climate, as while the elevation is higher than that of the plains, it is still located close to the equator.

Beyond the Plateau are the Ambakaran Mountains, situated west of the Rwizikuru River and north of the Plateau, and the Mabvazuva Mountains, situated east of the Rwizikuru River, and north of the Plains. The mountains are not suited for large-scale agriculture, although some subsistence agriculture occurs there. However, they are home to most of Rwizikuru's copper, and is also home to the highest point, at 2,997 meters above sea level, Mount Rekusununguka. The climate of the two mountain chains are subtropical highland climate, due to their elevation and location.

Economy

A market in Port Fitzhubert, 2010

As of 2016, Rwizikuru's economy is heavily based off of the mining of coltan, and copper, which comprises 75% of Rwizikuru's exports, as well as timber, which makes up another 15% of Rwizikuru's exports. However, these three sectors combined employ less than 30% of Rwizikurans, with around 55% of Rwizikurans working in agriculture, with almost all of them being subsistence farmers, although there are some commercial farmers who produce cash crops such as coffee and cacao, with coffee and cacao comprising 85% of the country's agricultural exports, or about 9% of the country's total exports.

Beginning in the 2000s, factories have begun to open, predominantly in the Port Fitzhubert metropolitan area, as countries, predominantly among more developed members Council for Mutual Development are outsourcing labour into Rwizikuru. Despite the rise in outsourcing, and expectations that it would help improve the Rwizikuran economy, most of this growth has been concentrated in the Port Fitzhubert metropolitan area, due to existing infrastructure in the country.

However, there are substantial economic problems in Rwizikuru: as of 2017, corruption is rife, while embezzlement has meant that most of the nation's foreign aid does not reach the ordinary citizenry, but rather is squandered by government officials, including the royal family, which has led Rwizikuru to be called a kleptocracy. In addition, poverty is high, with 57.5% of the population living below the official poverty line of 23,750ſ, or $1.90 per day. In addition, the economy is dominated by Mirite merchants, with 55% of the nation's tax revenues in 2017 being produced by Mirites, despite only making up around 1% of the total population as of the 2011 census.

Politics

Rwizikuru is a unitary constitutional monarchy, according to the current constitution passed in 2020, which superseded the 1964 Rwizikuran Basic Law, which in turn superseded the republican constitution of Rwizikuru that was adopted on its independence from Estmere. It is ruled by King Munashe Ngonidzashe since Izibongo Ngonidzashe's death on 21 February 2019, who serves as the head of state, while the head of government is the Premier, currently held by Tsuru Mawere, who was elected from the National Assembly on 7 April, 2020.

From 1949 on, there has been a ban on the establishment of any political parties, with all existing political parties becoming organisations to either support or criticize the government, while between the 1959 general elections to the 2019 elections to select some of the delegates for a constitutional assembly, there had been no nation-wide elections. Since then, there have been national elections, as well as municipal elections.

Under the rule of Izibongo Ngonidzashe, civic freedoms and political freedoms were heavily curtailed, with strict lèse-majesté laws banning the criticism of the royal family, or of any Rwizikuran monarch, as well as restricts the freedom of assembly, leading to Rwizikuru having some of the worst human rights records in the world. However, economic freedoms have increased substantially under Izibongo's reign, with businesses finding it easier to operate in the country, with very little regulation, due to reforms made in the 1980s to undo the effects of his father's isolationist policies.

Legal system

According to the current constitution, Rwizikuru operates under the principles of Estmerish law as was introduced by Estmerish colonizers. From the institution of the Basic Law in 1964 to replace the old constitution, until the promulgation of the current constitution, the reigning King was allowed to interfere in the judiciary as he so pleased, such as altering sentences, leading to a non-independent judicial system. Since the promulgation of the current constitution, the Rwizikuran judiciary has become more independent from government diktats, although it is still considered imperfect in comparision to most Euclean or Asterian judicial sytems.

Rwizikuru still maintains the death penalty, with all offenses punishable by death in the colonial law code of 1946 remaining punishable by hanging.

Police forces are largely done by cities, although the Royal Rwizikuran Constabulary serves as the national police and royal bodyguards. Defence is provided by the Royal Rwizikuran Armed Forces, which as of 2011 has 567,102 soldiers.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Rwizikuru

Rwizikuru is officially divided into six provinces (Rwizi: mapurovhinzi, sing. purovhinzi) and one district (Rwizi: dunhu), since the promulgation of the Rwizikuran constitution. The provinces are run by a governor (Rwizi: mubati) who is appointed by the reigning monarch and serves at His Majesty's pleasure. The newest district is Gutaguru, established in 1978.

Map	Province	Capital	Population (2011)
File:Rwizimap.png Midlands Manathea South Balisaland North Balisaland Randaland Northern Territory G. Mabifia Yemet Garambura Maccan Sea	Gutaguru	Guta raMambo	294,667
	Manathea	Rutendo	17,303,477
	Midlands	Munzwa	5,804,843
	North Balisaland	Mohubedu	2,054,260
	Northern Territory	Zambuko	2,373,235
	Randaland	Ichambu	3,950,239
	South Balisaland	Chekumabvazuva	7,122,671

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1921	5,732,028	—
1931	5,982,493	+4.4%
1941	9,251,671	+54.6%
1951	12,355,540	+33.5%
1961	16,120,793	+30.5%
1971	11,753,115	−27.1%
1981	13,796,304	+17.4%
1991	18,586,775	+34.7%
2001	27,791,733	+49.5%
2011	38,903,392	+40.0%
Source: Estmerish colonial census (1921-1941) Rwizikuru census (1951-2011)

Ethnicity

Two Rwizi musicians, 2015

As of the 2011 census, Rwizikuru has 38.9 million inhabitants living within its borders. The overwhelming majority of the population, at 58% of the population (22,563,967 people), are Rwizi. The largest ethnic minority in Rwizikuru are the Balisa, comprising 20% of the population (7,780,678 people), with the next largest Oulume minorities being the Makomo, comprising 10% of the population (3,890,339 people), and the Randa, comprising 5% of the population (1,945,170 people), with all other Bahians comprising 5% of the population, or 1,945,170 people, mostly smaller minorities from neighbouring Bahian states, such as the Akortu, but also Freemen, or descendants of free Bahio-Asterian slaves and those captured on illegal slave ships by the Estmerish.

Among other ethnicities present in Rwizikuru, one percent of the population, or 389,035 people are Mirites, with the remaining one percent, or 389,033 people being predominantly expatriates from countries such as Estmere, or Senria, or part of the Murungu, referring to white citizens of Rwizikuru, although there are a handful of smaller non-Bahian communities present in Rwizikuru as well.

Religion

As of the 2011 census, around 76% of the population, or 29,566,578 people are Sotirians. The largest sects are the United Amended Church comprising around 31% of the total population, or 12,060,052 people, the Reformed and Amended Church of Sotirias, who comprise 21% of the population, or 8,169,712 people, and the Catholics, which comprise roughly 18% of the total population, or 7,002,611 people. Other Amendist sects comprise 5% of the total population, or 1,941,496 people.

The remainder of the Sotirian population, at around 392,707 people, or around two percent of the total population adhere to different sects, with the most prominent of these being the Mirite Church, which is related to the Brethren Church.

The second largest religion after Sotirianity is Badi, practiced by around 16% of the population, or around 6,224,543 people. The third largest religion in Rwizikuru is Irfan, practiced by 7% of the population, or 2,723,237 people. Finally, the remainder of the population, or 389,034 people follow other religions, mostly traditional Bahian religions, or are irreligious.

However, syncretism is widespread, with anthropologists claiming that at least half of the total population practices some form of indigenous beliefs in addition to their adopted religion.

Languages

The two official languages are the Rwizi language (Mutauro weRwizi), and Estmerish. To this day, government services are only regularly provided in Rwizi, though in recent decades, services directed at tourists are using Gaullican, and with the adoption of the current constitution, Gaullican, and Molisa are recognized as minority languages.

As of the 2011 census, 99% of the population "have some level of understanding" of the Rwizi language, with 67% of the population being "natively fluent" in Rwizi. 85% of the population have some level of understanding of the Estmerish language, although only twenty percent are "natively fluent" in Estmerish, which is also defined as including Estuary Creole.

Besides Rwizi and Estmerish, other major languages being spoken include the Gaullican language, with 60% of people having some level of understanding, and 35% being natively fluent in it, and the Molisa language, with around a fifth of the total population having some level of understanding of Molisa, although most speakers are ethnic Balisa who speak it as a native language.

Largest cities

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As of the 2011 census, the largest metropolitan area of Rwizikuru is the Port Fitzhubert metropolitan area, with 11,009,660 people, or 28.3% of the nation's population, spread over the provinces of Manathea and South Balisaland. The next largest metropolitan area is the Port Graham metropolitan area, inhabited by 1,244,909 people, or 3.2% of the nation's population, located entirely within the province of Manathea.

The total number of people living in urban areas in Rwizikuru is around 18,401,304 people, or 47.3% of the nation's population, with the remainder residing in urban areas. This was an increase from 2001, when only 7,753,894 people, or 27.9% of the nation's population, lived in urban areas.

Infrastructure

Transportation

The Mugwagwa near Port Graham

Rwizikuru's road network was largely developed in the 1950s and early 1960s, with the only motorway, known as the Mugwagwa, starting at the border with Garambura, and connecting the coastal cities of Port Fitzhubert and Port Graham, and then continuing to the border with Mabifia. Rwizikuru has driven on the left since 1956 when it was switched on the orders of Vudzijena Nhema as a means to distance the country from Estmerish rule. However, since then, the development of road infrastructure has stagnated. As of 2015, only 30% of the country's roads are paved.

A major form of transportation in Rwizikuru is water transportation, with a lot of boats traversing the Rwizikuru River, as many cities, such as Rusere, Zambuko, Mohubedu, Guta raMambo, Munzwa, Chekumabvazuva, and Port Fitzhubert lie along the river. It is believed that 60% of freight transport, and 40% passenger transport between any of those cities involve the Rwizikuru River. As well, the two principal commercial harbours are the Port of Port Fitzhubert, situated in Port Fitzhubert, and the newly-opened Port of Fangsu, situated in the city of Fangsu.

The national rail network, run by Rwizikuru Rail, has three lines: one connecting Mohubedu to Chekumabvazuva, one connecting Port Fitzhubert to Rusere, and one connecting the town of Tchinamano along the Mabifian-Rwizikuran border to the town of Maghedi on the Garamburan-Rwizikuran border.

The sole international airport of Rwizikuru is Zophar Bohannon International Airport near Port Fitzhubert, although regional airports exist to serve internal flights. The only domestic airline operating and based in Rwizikuru is Ndege Airlines, which has a monopoly on all domestic flights in Rwizikuru.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Rwizikuru has been a form of universal healthcare since the passage of the Healthcare Act of 1944 by the colonial government. While the republican constitution never guaranteed universal healthcare, the Basic Law of Rwizikuru guaranteed free healthcare for all in Rwizikuru.

However, due to decades of corruption and kleptocracy, the public healthcare system has fallen into disarray, which has forced many to either spend a lot of money to acquire high-quality healthcare, or else suffer from easily treatable diseases. While in recent years, foreign aid has helped alleviate the situation, with new clinics opening up, especially in the cities, many of them are operated and run by for-profit companies, which has hindered the ability of poor people to get treated.

As of 2011, the life expectancy in Rwizikuru was 55.5 years, with a life expectancy of 64.1 years for men, and 46.9 years for women, attributed to the high rate of maternal mortality among rural and poor women. Rwizikuru has one of the highest prevalences of HIV/AIDS in Kylaris, with 11.9% of the population between 15 and 49 having HIV/AIDS in 2020, which is a decline from 1997, when it peaked at 24.7% of those between 15 and 49.

Education

Main article: Education in Rwizikuru

Education in Rwizikuru is structurally based off the education system in Estmere as it existed at independence. Education is compulsory for students ages 5 to 14, with children ages 5 to 8 attending infant schools, and children ages 8 to 12 attending junior schools. At the age of 11, students take the eleven-plus exam, with the top 25% of students in academic ability going to grammar school, which provides education up to the age of 19, with fifth and sixth forms, while those who have passed go to secondary modern schools, which only offer first through fourth forms. Those that fail will have to repeat the year until they pass.

If one finishes sixth form, students have the option of studying at a polytechnic, or at the University of Rwizikuru. However, many Rwizikuran graduates study abroad, primarily in TBD due to their low costs and higher quality than in Rwizikuru universities and polytechnics.

As of the 2011 census, the literacy rate of persons over the age of five is at 70.2%, making Rwizikuru a country with one of the highest rates of illiteracy in the world, while functional illiteracy among women is believed to be substantially higher than that of males.

The most significant problem with education in Rwizikuru include corruption on both national, provincial, and district levels hampering educational development, which has greatly affected the quality of both infrastructure, and of education in general.

Culture

Arts

A 1973 eagle sculpture by Njive Mkwananzi, 2007

Rwizikuru has had a significant artistic tradition for centuries before colonization, with pottery, basket weaving, carvings, and jewellery, with the Rwizi being renowned for their sculptures, even though since the 19th century, Estmerish influences and techniques have been adopted by the Rwizi. The most well-known sculptors from the country since the 20th century include Njive Mkwananzi, Kudiwanashe Dangarembga, and Tanunurwa Sibanda.

During colonial rule, Estmerish-style art became more common, with Peter Credge opening an art school in 1876 in Port Fitzhubert to teach the Rwizi "civilized art." This led to a generation of painters, usually painting in a romanticist style, with prominent painters from Rwizikuru including Hosho Tungamirai, Alexander Muzenda, and Manyara Mahachi.

In addition, literature became widespread under colonial rule as the Rwizi was until the 1870s not a written language. While initially, most authors were white settlers, such as Roe Lyness, and Evalyn Vear, from around 1900 onward, the Rwizi began to write, with the most successful Rwizi authors being Anesuishe Moffat, Nokutendaishe Mnkandla, Tinavo Mumbengegwi, and Tafadzwa Mubako.

Film has also become incredibly popular, especially after the Great War ended in 1936, with the first Rwizikuran filmmaker, Irikidzayi Hatendi producing the first Rwizi-language film in 1941, Rwendo (The Journey). Following independence, the film industry blossomed in the 1950s, with several studios based in Port Fitzhubert and Port Vaugeois (present-day Port Musabyimana), but by 1965, this era ended with the nationalizing of the state film industry under the Royal Rwizikuran Film Studio, which is most notable for the 1989 film and victor of the Montecara Film Festival, Dzokera kumba (Separation). Since the 1990s, with decreasing regulation, other film studios have established, most notably Samkange Film Productions, which is known for Ndiani Akauraya General Ncube? (Who Killed General Ncube?), and KudaProgress Studios, who is known for Such Beautiful Estmerish Rain and Munzira.

Famous actors from Rwizikuru include Edzai Mujuru, Masamba Marachera, Baba Asante, Sadzamari Malianga, and Gondayi Nengomasha.

Cuisine

Sadza with callaloo and goat meat

Rwizikuran cuisine is greatly influenced by traditional Rwizi cuisine, by cuisines from other ethnicities present in Rwizikuru, and by Estmerish cuisine.

The most prominent Rwizi food consumed in Rwizikuru, and often seen as the national dish of the country is sadza, made with finely-ground maize or finger millet, and often consumed with a side, traditionally of either nyama yakagochwa, traditionally made with either beef or goat meat, fish, chomolia, yams, or rice. Other prominent Rwizi foods include bota, which is often flavoured with peanut butter; rice, and tuna.

From the Balisa, sechu have become the most popular Balisa food consumed in the country, while beetroot, a common side dish to many Balisa foods has become a popular side dish in Rwizikuran cuisine. Among other ethnicities present in Rwizikuru, ubwali, a food related to sadza but exclusively made with millet and consumed with umunani is consumed by the Makomo, while in the far north, tsebhi is traditionally consumed by the Akortu with a sourdough flatbread, known as taita.

Due to centuries of Estmerish influence and rule over Rwizikuru, Estmerish cuisine has become prevalent in Rwizikuru. The roast dinner has become a prominent part of Rwizikuran cuisine, particularly among the upper classes of Rwizikuran society, while fish and chips have become a very popular dish among a wider cross-section of Rwizikurans, particularly those living along the coast and along the major rivers, due to the cost of transportation inland. In addition, the practice of afternoon tea is common across the country, particularly among upper and middle classes, varungu, and Freemen. Furthermore, callaloo and pelo were brought over by Freemen from Imagua and the Assimas and other Estmerish colonies in the Asterias.

Sports

Netball court in Crogan, 2019

Rwizikuru's most popular and de-facto national sport is rugby, with the national rugby team being the Rwizikuran Lions. The main rugby league is the Rugby Association of Rwizikuru, comprised of eleven clubs, with the dominant clubs being the Southsiders and the Port Fitzhubert Lions, both based in Port Fitzhubert, and the Munzwa Elephants in Munzwa.

The second most popular sport in Rwizikuru is football, with the national football team being called the MaVarvi, and with the main league being the Rwizikuru Football League, comprised of nine clubs, with the dominant clubs being FC Port Fitzhubert and FC Munzwa.

The third most popular sport is track and field, particularly sprinting events, which is the most popular individual sport in the country. Historically, Rwizikuru has tended to do well in sprinting, with most of the country's medals in the Invictus Games coming from sprinting events, and efforts have been made by the Rwizikuran government, particularly since the late 2000s, to improve Rwizikuru's performance at the Invictus Games, particularly the sprinting events.

Other major sports in Rwizikuru include netball, primarily played by women, and field hockey, which although historically popular, has declined in popularity since the 1970s, with the Rwizikuran Hockey Association, historically the premier field hockey league in Rwizikuru, holding its final competition in 2008.

Media

Media in Rwizikuru had been tightly restricted since the passage of the Rwizikuran Basic Law in 1964, until reforms were made by Munashe Ngonidzashe in September 2019. Only a single state-run newspaper, The Rwizikuran (formerly the Port Fitzhubert Herald until 1950) had been allowed to publish in the country since 1970, until Munashe Ngonidzashe lifted restrictions on domestic newspapers operating in the country. As well, there is a single state-owned television and radio network, Rwizikuran Information Service, which began radio transmissions in 1948, and television broadcasts in 1981. Until 2019, it was illegal for private entities to operate radio stations, although the law had been poorly enforced since the 1990s. In 2019, Munashe Ngonidzashe announced plans to legalize private radio stations by licensing those already on the air, and ensuring that their signals will be protected.

There is little censorship or restrictions on the internet, primarily due to the fact that as of 2015, less than 15% of the population have access to the internet, while 35% have a television set, and 87% of households have at least one radio. This has led opponents of the government to operate with impunity online.

Holidays

Name	Shona name	Date
New Year's Day	Goredzva	1 January
Remembrance Day	Yekurangarira Zuva	12 February
Accession Day	Zuva Rekubvuma	21 February
Good Friday	Chishanu Chakanaka	variable
Paschal Saturday	Pasha Mugovera	variable
Paschal Sunday	Pasha Svondo	variable
Paschal Monday	Pahsa Muvhuro	variable
Senior's Day	Zuva revakuru	1 June
Labour Day	Zuva Revashandi	1 May
Independence Day	Zuva Resununguko	2 December
Nativity Eve	Manheru reKuberekwa	24 December
Nativity Day	Zuva reKuberekwa	25 December
New Year's Eve	Egore Idzva	31 December