Mapfihwa matombo anoshandiswa kugadza poto kana hari pachoto chinobikirwa. Mapfihwa anokwanisa kushandiswa ari matatu kana mana, kuita kuti hari inatse kugara zvakanaka isinga tsedeguke kana kuzodeura zviri mairi. Chigadzamapfihwa zvinoreva mukadzi anogara nhaka yemukoma wake kana tete mushure merufu. Baila vanoti mafua (place for fire, stove, oven). VaChewa vanoti fua (one of three stones that supports pot on fireplace) kureva pfihwa. VaDigo vanoti ma-figa (cooking stones), vachireva mapfihwa.