Political Organisation

No doubt that any people who achieve so many victories must have good leadership and organisation. The German commander Ernst Nigmann devoted a chapter of 30 pages of his book "Die Wahehe" to chief Mkwawa's military organisation. The political organisations under Chief Mkwawa's reign was also mainly serving military ends as he was always at war.

The chief himself owed his position because of his ancestry. He was a member of the Muyinga family. He was a son of seNgimba, a woman descended from the chiefs of Ilole. He was also a grandchild of seKindole, a daughter from a former chief in Lungemba.

From Kalenga, he ruled Uhehe chiefdom through subordinate rulers (vanzagila) whom he appointed. Vanzagila were responsible for the area alloted to them by chief, for keeping order, judging disputes, for informing the chief of important news, and assembling men for public works and war.

At the capital Kalenga stayed war captives (vanyawingi) who performed servile jobs.

Young men training for war (vigendo), were used as servants and messengers.

Wisemen (vatambule), they advised the chief and assisted him in judging disputes.

Herdsmenr (vafugwa), they were chief's herdsmen.

Spies (vatandisi), before going to war, vatandisi were sent out to spy several days before.

An advance guard (vandagandaga), they were sent out to search for booty and plunder and to capture stragglers if the enemy had already run away.

Main fighting force was made up of companies (fipuka), if the chief and his close relatives were to take part in a war, they came towards from the rear. This was a caution as blood split would demoralize other soldiers.

Also at the rear were older experienced troops (vatengelamutwa) who stood firm by the chief, porters, prisoners and others needed for maintaining the forces in battles.