At its peak in the sixteenth century, the Zimbabwe Culture encompassed an area the size of France. The greater Tuli area in east-central Botswana formed the western extent of this culture area. Here many dzimbahwe mark the residences of sacred leaders in the later Khami period (1400–1840 ad). These stone-walled headquarters formed a pyramid of political importance, with district chiefs (Level 4) and petty chiefs (Level 3) at the top and headmen (Level 2) and commoners (Level 1) at the base. Commoners and their headmen lived near arable land, while petty chiefs placed their administrative centres at the boundaries of their small chiefdoms. In death, sacred leaders rested in dzimbahwe on special hills, while ordinary villagers were buried in their homesteads. During the Khami period in Botswana, these various settlements were part of only one Level 4 district: Level 5 and Level 6 capitals were located elsewhere. After the collapse of the powerful Torwa state at Khami, decorative symbols changed from emphasizing the majesty of kingship (Khami) to the responsibilities of sacred leaders (Zinjanja), and then back again to kingship in the Rozvi state (Danangombe). The powerful Rozvi state did not extend to the Tuli area, probably because it was too dry.

在十六世纪的鼎盛时期，津巴布韦文化涵盖了一个法国大小的地区。博茨瓦纳中东部的大图里地区形成了该文化区的西部范围。在这里，许多dzimbahwe标志着卡米后期（公元 1400-1840 年）神圣领袖的住所。这些石墙总部形成了一个具有政治重要性的金字塔，最高层为区长（4级）和小酋长（3级），基层为首领（2级）和平民（1级）。平民和他们的首领住在靠近耕地的地方，而小酋长将他们的行政中心设在他们小酋长领地的边界上。死后，神圣领袖在津巴威安息在特殊的山丘上，而普通村民则被埋葬在他们的家园。在博茨瓦纳的卡米时期，这些不同的定居点仅属于一个 4 级地区：5 级和 6 级首府位于其他地方。在强大的卡米托尔瓦州崩溃后，装饰符号从强调王权的威严（Khami）转变为神圣领袖的职责（Zinjanja），然后又回到罗兹维州（Danangombe）的王权。强大的罗兹维州没有延伸到图里地区，可能是因为那里太干燥了。