Boundaries are reconstructed from historical descriptions and cartographic sources and are approximate.
Mapfungautsi—often misspelled as "Mafungabusi" during the colonial period—was a historical administrative district located in north-western Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Before the early 20th century, it was a distinct landscape defined by a forested plateau; its southwestern portion now comprises the Mapfungautsi State Forest. Together with the neighboring Sibungu District, it formed the basis of the greater Sebungwe Region, from which the modern Gokwe Region later emerged[1].
The Mapfungautsi Plateau, which lends its name to the district and Mapfungautsi State Forest, still holds onto the name. Meanwhile, the Mapfungautsi Region has evolved into Gokwe region
Etymology and toponymy
The name Mapfungautsi derives from local Shona usage and is associated with the wooded plateau and forested highlands of the area. The name is thought to have been given by people living in the lower-lying eastern areas, who regarded Mapfungautsi as a mountain because of its steep cliffs and the hills clustered around its base. During the dry season, as the year draws to a close, people in the valleys and lowlands observe the entire mountain appearing to emit smoke during the day, while in the evening it seems to glow with a large fire, despite nothing actually burning. In this sense, Mapfungautsi—utsi meaning “smoke”—literally means “that which gives off smoke,” or “the smoking entity,” the Smoke-emitting-Mountain in this case[2].
Although Mapfungautsi is technically a plateau, its high elevation and steep edges make it look like a mountain to people coming from the surrounding lowlands. In traditional local place-naming, especially before land surveys, what people saw was more important than scientific accuracy. Features that looked like mountains were often named as mountains. Early maps, including the Orographical Map of Southern Rhodesia, therefore labelled the plateau as a mountain [3], likely based on visual observation rather than precise measurement tools available at the time.
Geography
Approximate outline of the Mapfungautsi region, based on historical sources
The Mapfungautsi Region was an upland area situated in north-western Zimbabwe, approximately between latitude 16.75° S to 18.5° S and longitude 27.5° E to 29.5° E. The region lay on a rugged plateau with prominent escarpments and surrounding hills, forming a natural watershed between the middle Zambezi Valley to the north and lower inland plains to the east and south.
Outline map showing the approximate extent of the historic Mapfungautsi region
The region's terrain was dominated by dense woodland, distinguishing it from the neighbouring low-lying Sebungu area to the west. The Sengwa River flowed through the region, draining northwards toward the Zambezi River. The Sanyati river, which received the Ngondoma River as a tributary, also drained the region and formed a natural border with Makonde district. Other rivers, such as the Svisvi and Sesame, flowed northwards through the region.
Mapfungautsi Region bordered the districts of Hurungwe, Makonde, Zhombe, Nkayi, Lupane, and Sebungu (Binga), and was characterised by its elevated terrain and woodland ecosystem.
Within its borders lay a vast woodland dominated by teak and mahogany trees, among other indigenous species[4], which contributed to the region's distinction from surrounding low-lying areas. This forest resource would later lead to the demarcation of a significant portion of Mapfungautsi as a protected state forest in 1953, recognised as one of the largest indigenous forests in Zimbabwe, playing a crucial role in the country's conservation efforts.
Historical background
Mapfungautsi was formally gazetted as a district in the late 19th century, shortly after colonial administration was established in north-western Southern Rhodesia. At that time, it existed as a separate administrative entity alongside Sebungu and Wankie to the west and Lomagundi to the east, each recognised as distinct districts within a loosely defined frontier zone. In 1901, Mapfungautsi was merged with Sebungu to form Sebungwe–Mafungabusi, a single administrative unit. By 1907, the combined name was shortened to Sebungwe, marking a shift toward a unified regional identity and gradually phasing out the name Mapfungautsi from official use[5].
Relationship to Sebungu, Sebungwe, and Gokwe
Mapfungautsi played a central role in forming the Sebungwe Region but wasn't synonymous with it. Before amalgamation, Sebungu and Mapfungautsi were adjacent yet distinct areas, with Sinasenkwe river (a name of the local chieftaincy, "Sinasenkwe") [6] ), serving as the boundary between them, although early cartographic sources sometimes obscured this distinction through confusion with the larger Sengwe River[7]. Mapfungautsi was associated with the eastern and southern portions - the forested plateau and settlement zones. Post-amalgamation boundary changes saw Sebungwe's easterly areas, largely Mapfungautsi, become Gokwe in 1927. This suggests Gokwe developed primarily from Mapfungautsi territory, not directly from Sebungu, despite later name conflation.
Forest conservation and later significance
During the 20th century, Mapfungautsi became linked to forest management and conservation, leading to the establishment of Mapfungautsi Forest as a protected area. This cemented Mapfungautsi's association with a specific ecological landscape, rather than an administrative district, distinguishing it from Sebungu and Sebungwe. The Mapfungautsi Forest's prominence in environmental discourse kept the name alive, even as its administrative meaning faded[8].
Historiography
Historical views on Mapfungautsi vary by discipline. Administrative histories often see it as part of Sebungwe, while environmental studies highlight its identity as a forested plateau. Mapfungautsi's early amalgamation with Sebungu and Sebungwe's dominance led to Mapfungautsi's marginalisation. Recent scholarship recovers these distinctions, seeing Mapfungautsi as key to forming Sebungwe and Gokwe, showing how geography shaped administrative evolution in north-western Zimbabwe.
Legacy
Today, Mapfungautsi is mainly linked to Mapfungautsi Forest and its landscape. Its past as a district and part of Sebungwe is mostly of historical interest. A suburb in Gokwe town and a secondary school south of Mutange Dam carry the name. Mapfungautsi, along with Sebungu, provides context for understanding the origins of Sebungwe Region and Gokwe's emergence. Gokwe Region comprises Gokwe North District (capital: Mutora, Nembudziya) and Gokwe South District (capital: Gokwe center, also the regional capital). The two sister districts have excellent profiles[9][10].
↑Bartholomew, J; George, John (1897). "Orographical Map of Southern Rhodesia"(TIFF). Digital Collections. Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: University Library, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
↑Tsoroti, Stephen (7 July 2016). Mafungautsi forest endangered(Print) (report). Financial Gazette. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
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