Moveti Manzi
Born
Moveti Manzi was born on 1 January 1960 in Centenary.
Early Life
Manzi attended Horseshoe Primary School in Mvurwi, but showed little interest in academic study compared to creative crafts. From an early age, he drew portraits of animals and birds, worked with clay modelling, and made wire constructions with friends. While still at school, he began sculpting animal forms in stone.
Career
After leaving school, Manzi worked in a variety of manual and industrial roles, including as a tobacco field worker at John Neckliton Farm and later for two years at Mpinge Mine. Following an accident, he returned to live with his parents in Tengenenge, where he worked as a general labourer on a nearby farm.
Due to financial necessity, he began sculpting professionally in 1976, quickly developing it into a sustainable livelihood. He also worked in the serpentine stone mine associated with Tengenenge, eventually obtaining a mining licence and becoming a mine manager.
Later in his career, Manzi worked at Zvirimudombo for eight months in 1999, a period that followed a personal bereavement. He has exhibited widely, including at Chapungu Sculpture Park alongside prominent sculptors such as the late Bernard Matemera.
Materials
Manzi works primarily in serpentine stone, a material closely associated with Zimbabwean sculpture, and has also been involved in its extraction through mining activities linked to his artistic practice.
Style & Subject
Manzi’s sculpture is rooted in natural and animal forms, reflecting his early fascination with wildlife. His work includes depictions of animals such as birds and pangolins, as well as stylised human and symbolic forms.
His artistic development progressed from simple carved heads to more complex animal subjects, with his work often reflecting emotional experience, personal loss, and a close relationship with the natural environment.
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Animals and Birds £4,990 inc VATLarge Stone Bird Sculpture – Graceful Bird by Moveti Manzi (Unique)
Graceful Bird by Moveti Manzi, Springstone