How did Great Zimbabwe control mining and trade in the region around Mozambique?

The civilization of Great Zimbabwe exerted political dominance over the region from the mid-13th to the mid-15th century, during which time it exercised control over both mining and trade activities.12

The region’s economy was fundamentally based on agriculture and cattle keeping, but it grew increasingly complex through the development of local industries. Great Zimbabwe managed the mining of gold, copper, and iron ore, as well as the operation of salt pans, tool forges, and potting industries.12

This control facilitated a robust trade network. Great Zimbabwe served as a primary center for production and intra-African trade, while also engaging in long-distance commerce. Specifically, the civilization facilitated the exchange of gold for beads and cloth with Middle Eastern and South Asian traders across the Indian Ocean. Settlements such as Manekweni in southern Mozambique functioned as regional hubs that replicated the social and settlement patterns of the highland interior, serving as vital centers for the gold trade.12