The Zulu King was planted last Wednesday, I began writing this on a piece of paper when he was planted. As an African, I’m still learning about my roots, because roots determine the kind of tree and fruits you will display.

I have realised that the past has a way to ruthlessly influence the present, hence lest we forget.

Chief Thulani Jubane of the Mthwakazi nation in Matebeleland, western Zimbabwe paid his respects to the Zulu Monarch who ruled for 50 years, King Goodwill Zwelithini Ka Bkekizulu. One may ask, why is a Matebeleland Chief from Western Zimbabwean paying his respects to the Zulu Monarch?

The founder of the Mthwakazi Kingdom, of the Ndebele people in Zimbabwe is King Mzilikazi Wa Mashobane, of the Khumalo people. He travelled from KwaNongoma region in KZN, to Zimbabwe. King Mzilikazi’s maternal grandfather, was King Zwide Ka Langa of the Ndwandwe people.

The Ndwandwe people were the original inhabitants of KwaNongoma but they lost the land to King Shaka Ka Senzangakhona.

King Shaka, was from the Zulu people which was a small nation.
Two Centuries ago, King Shaka built what we now know as the Zulu Kingdom. However, King Mzilikazi assisted him in building such an empire. King Mzilikazi Wa Mashobane later defied King Shaka Ka Senzangakhona and left for Zimbabwe, to form what we call Ndebele clan.

However, here’s a twist. The name Amandebele, was given by the Basotho/Batswana people to the first group of Nguni language speakers, who migrated from KZN to the Highveld in the mid-1500s.

King Mzilikazi Wa Mashobane, came to the Highveld apparently in 1828. The original Amandebele KaMusi, came to the Highveld under the leadership of King Mhlanga Ka Mafana in 1500s.

They settled on the West Rand, in an area they called eMhlangeni. The Tswana people who also lived in the area, called it Mohlakeng because they couldn’t pronounce eMhlangeni.

The name survived into modern South Africa, and a township in that area was called Mohlakeng.

King Mhlanga was succeeded by King Musi Mkhalanganga between 1580-1600, King Musi migrated Amandebele to what is now called Wonderboom, Pretoria.

The seat of Amandebele was called KwaMnyamane, the other settlement was called eMaruleni.

The Amandebele settlement survived until the 1970s, but was dismantled by the apartheid government under Group areas act, to make way for what is now called Brakfontein, in Centurion.

After King Musi was planted, the Amandebele were split by a fight between Prince Manala, ancestor of aboMabena and Prince Nzuza, ancestor of the aboMahlangu.

The split led to the Nzuza Ndebeles to the East of KwaMnyamane, which we now call Mpumalanga. The Manala Ndebeles remained in the areas around KwaMnyamane.

The other sons of King Musi, either chose sides or made their own paths. Prince Masombuka joined the Nzuza, Prince Sibasa went north and settled among VhaVenda, Prince Litjila went south and settled amongst Basotho, Prince Dlomo returned to KZN and Prince Mrhwaduba and his followers, remained around what is now called Pretoria and they formed what is known as Bahwaduba.

200 years later, King Mzilikazi Ka Mashobane came to what we call Pretoria and chased the splinters of Amandebele away. King Mzilikazi Ka Mashobane killed the Nzuza King, wreaked havoc in the BaTswana and BaPedi Kingdoms which were in the West, East and North of Pretoria.

King Mzilikazi Ka Mashobane then moved to what is now called Zeerust, were the seat of his Kingdom was called Inzwinyani (Silkaatskop).

However, he was driven away to Zimbabwe by a collaboration between Barolong and Voortrekkers, who went on to establish Pretoria as the capital city of the Transvaal Republic.

***

Tell us: What do you know about your history?