Introduction

The Ndau people are found along the Mozambique and Zimbabwe boundaries; these people are the same, only divided by the states/national boundaries. They share the same cultural norms and values, as well as being families by lineages and marital factors. The language they speak is almost the same except some of the words are influenced by different colonial backgrounds (Anglophone and Lusophone).

Transnational Culture of Ndau Communities

A common pattern of learned, transmitted socialization (symbols, values, and experiences), resulting from a context of various people, languages, and ethnic backgrounds can be regarded as transnational culture. The language used is the same except some of the words influenced by English and Portuguese; for instance, the Ndau from Zimbabwe use some jargon in English, whereas the Ndau from Mozambique use Portuguese. This is the way someone can notice this Ndau person is from Mozambique or Zimbabwe. The establishment of Ndau people can be traced historically, evidently by their borrowed words from Nguni languages such as Xhosa, IsiZulu, and Ndebele; to which further defended by their surnames such as Dhliwayo, Hlatswayo, Mlambo, and Sithole. The Ndau people are found along the border of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and are further characterized in different groups such as Magova, Vatomboti (vatombidji), etc. They are mostly found along the boundary between Mozambique’s Espungabera area and Zimbabwe’s Chipinge area, with Madanda found in Machaze district deep inside Mozambique. 

Traditional Activities

Activities that residents engage in, such as gathering food, survival, or ceremonial purposes to fortify and improve social, spiritual, and cultural bonds, are referred to as traditional activities. Therefore, they share a lot of the same traditional activities. Both the Mozambican and Zimbabwean people practice the Muchongoyo traditional dance as a form of entertainment. Appeasing their gods or traditional spiritual events such as Tsvisa, the traditional beer for deceased family members, Madhlozi, Mbhongo, Zvisora, and Zvivayungu are spiritual ceremonies by the Ndau people.

Political Border Regime

This is a set of rules and procedures that applies to those who are trying to enter the state’s territory; therefore, both the Mozambican and Zimbabwean governments are there to facilitate communication between the same people found in different countries. They put in place what they call simplified crossing posts, unlike the official port of entries. Under this simplified post, security service agencies can be found from both sides of the countries, with their mission being to safeguard state security as well as facilitate the movements of local people from either side of the countries. The local people can use their national identification cards to enter the state. They cross for trade, school, health services, family issues, religion, and even visiting traditional chiefs. Unfortunately, some security service agencies end up being corrupt by charge remunerations. 

Conclusion

Mozambican and Zimbabwean Ndau people share same the culture and are related to each other; unfortunately they are divided by national boundaries. Despite two government’s efforts through border regime policies, those enforcing the policies, which are the security agencies, sometimes make it difficult for the local people by demanding money in order for them to cross.

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