Binga replaces shona names with BaTonga heritage sites, icons

Binga has taken a historic step in reclaiming its cultural identity by renaming key areas and roads, replacing colonial-era designations with BaTonga heritage titles and icons.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Binga Local Board, seeks to honour the district's history, traditional spirits and national heroes while preserving the unique cultural fabric of the BaTonga people.

Under the changes, the area previously known as Secondary is now Kaani-Kamutumpwi, while Rest Camp has been renamed Maalila, after a revered rain-making spirit central to BaTonga culture. Other areas such as Back Harbour, Govera and Garikai have been renamed Siankuku, Manyanga and Silyambembe, respectively, reflecting deep-rooted heritage ties.

Several roads have also been given new names to pay tribute to local leaders and national heroes. Kariyangwe Road has become Sikajaya Road in honour of the late Andrew Sikajaya Muntanga, a national hero closely associated with the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo. Siansali and Sinamagonde roads now commemorate two revered chiefs whose leadership shaped the district's history.

In further recognition of Muntanga's legacy, a new primary school in the Kaani-Kamutumpwi suburb will also bear his name.

Sam Mwiinde, project services officer for the Binga Local Board, said the exercise was a celebration of identity and belonging.
"This is a celebration of identity and history that connects the community to its roots. The board encourages everyone to use these names in official and everyday communication to ensure a smooth transition," he said.
"This transition is more than just a change of signs; it is a celebration of who we are. Using these designations is a powerful way to connect with our history."

The renaming marks a defining moment for Binga, a district renowned for its scenic beauty along Lake Kariba and its vibrant BaTonga traditions.

The BaTonga are one of Zimbabwe's indigenous ethnic groups, with a history that traces back to migrations from the equatorial forests of the Congo Basin to the Zambezi River. Their cultural trajectory was deeply altered in the late 1950s with the construction of the Kariba Dam, which displaced around 60 000 Tonga people from their ancestral lands along the Zambezi to resettlements in Binga.

For many, this renaming exercise is more than symbolic — it is a reclamation of dignity and memory long obscured by colonial naming systems. By restoring these identities, Binga is not only preserving its past but also projecting cultural pride into the future.