House of Ngonidzashe
| House of Ngonidzashe Imba yaNgonidzashe | |
|---|---|
| Royal House | |
| File:CoatOfArmsOfRwizikuru.png | |
| Country | File:RwizikuruFlag.PNG Rwizikuru |
| Founded | December 1964 |
| Founder | Izibongo Ngonidzashe |
| Current head | Munashe Ngonidzashe |
| Titles | Mambo of Rwizikuru |
| Style(s) | His Most Faithful Majesty |
| Estate(s) | Imba yoRudzi, Mutopo Farm, Old Palace Museum |
| Cadet branches | House of Mkwananzi |
The House of Ngonidzashe (weRwizi: Imba yaNgonidzashe) is the reigning royal house of Rwizikuru, having ruled over Rwizikuru as a monarchy since the passage of the Basic Law of Rwizikuru in 1964, although it had ruled over Rwizikuru in some shape or form since its independence from Estmere in 1946.
Etymology
The name Ngonidzashe means "God's mercy," and was believed to be first given to Mutupo Ngonidzashe by High Estmerish missionaries in the 1860s. While this name is a somewhat common surname across Rwizikuru, with regards to the House of Ngonidzashe, all members bearing the name have originated in present-day Vongai, either directly or by being born from a descendant of someone born in Vongai.
Background
The House of Ngonidzashe, despite official claims that it was descended from the last Emperors of the veRwizi Empire which ruled over much of present-day Rwizikuru from the twelfth to the seventeenth centuries, likely originated in Vongai as a chiefly family, with one of the chiefs being Mutupo Ngonidzashe. Mutupo Ngonidzashe had sixteen children, of which four survived infancy, including Munonzwa Ngonidzashe, born in 1897, and Samhuri Ngonidzashe, who was born in 1899.
In the 1930s, Samhuri Ngonidzashe and Shungudzemwoyo Nhema launched the Rwizikuran National Movement, which advocated for the cause of Rwizikuru's independence from Estmere. Thus, after negotiations with Estmere in 1945 and 1946, Rwizikuru gained independence in 1946, and Samhuri Ngonidzashe was elected as the first President of Rwizikuru, and was re-elected in 1950.
In 1954, Samhuri stepped down, and was succeeded by his nephew, Izibongo Ngonidzashe. After instituting the Sixth Amendment of the Rwizikuran constitution, he was able to win a second term in 1959. However, as the amendment did not deal with the term limits, Izibongo would have to either table a new amendment or step down in 1964.
Instead, Izibongo Ngonidzashe declared the establishment of a Rwizikuran monarchy, with himself as Mambo. Thus, the House of Ngonidzashe was established, with agnatic primogeniture being used as a basis for inheritance to the Rwizikuran throne. Izibongo's cousin, Tichafara Ngonidzashe, became founder of a cadet branch of the House of Ngonidzashe, called the House of Mkwananzi, after Tichafara's wife's maiden name.
Members
As per the Basic Law of Rwizikuru, all male descendants of Munonzwa Ngonidzashe are eligible to inherit the Rwizikuran throne. Thus, according to the House of Ngonidzashe Act of 1965, passed by Izibongo Ngonidzashe, all members of the House of Ngonidzashe include:
- Any male descendant of Munonzwa Ngonidzashe via the male line, excluding those disqualified, and
- Any daughters of a male member of the House of Ngonidzashe
However, if a daughter does not marry a member of the House of Ngonidzashe, their children would not be considered part of the House of Ngonidzashe, as membership requires the father to be descended from Munonzwa Ngonidzashe via the male line. In addition, the daughter is not part of the line of succession.