Chronicle Editor
Mzala Tom
King Lobengula’s rise to the throne was bloody as he faced resistance from many quarters. His defeat of Mbiko kaMadlenya and his Zwangendaba regiment consolidated his throne as the successor of the founding King Mzilikazi.
Outside the formal national governance structures, there was a loose entity known as umphakathi/the inner circle composed of the king’s family, friends and rich barons – izikhulu – who played an important role in influencing national policies, appointments and governance.
King Lobengula’s brothers such as Ngubongubo, Nyanda, Silwane, Muntu, Fezela, Mahlahleni were prominent in his inner circle. His uncle Manondwana Tshabalala headed Insukamini regiment and was placed strategically to watch over his interests.
King Lobengula killed three of his brothers Qalingana, Zingwana and Mezwane who sided with Mbiko kaMadlenya during the 1872 civil strife. His other brother Mkhwelambala was entrusted with taking care of the king’s massive royal herds of cattle and land.
His brother Hlangabeza was killed because he looked like Lobengula, dressed like him and was always praised by the king’s soldiers and the public as if they were praising Lobengula. He was thus executed because he was now like a black shadow that over hung the king’s head.
By the end of the 1870s four men became the most prominent in the king’s inner circle. They were Lotshe Hlabangana of Induba, Gampu Sithole of Amagogo, Mhlaba Khumalo and Mtshane who led Imbizo.
In 1887 Gampu was exiled for allegedly seducing and defiling the king’s daughter. Gampu was to later return but was never trusted by the king. Some historians argue that Gampu was pushed out on trumped up charges because he was a threat to Lobengula.
Lotshe Hlabangana was executed in September 1889 on a charge that he misled the king to sign the Rudd Concession. Mhlaba Khumalo was prominent in the late 1880s and early 1890s.
Some people referred to him as the regent and prime minister. His fame was cut short in June 1892 when he was also executed.
Mhlaba and his brother Sidlodlo were executed after a discovery that they had favoured Nkulumane as the successor to King Mzilikazi. They were also accused of using medicines that enabled them to hypnotise royal wives so as to have unlimited non-consensual sex with them.
Mhlaba was later replaced by Bhozongwana Khumalo and Magwegwe Fuyane who won the king’s trust. Magwegwe born of a commoner Nguzana of Mhlahlandlela rose to become the prime minister.
It is believed that as at 1893 Magwegwe, the king’s brothers and Mtshana Khumalo dominated the king and influenced his relations with whites and the 1893 Anglo-Ndebele War.
Historians say that Bhozongwana and Magwegwe committed suicide at Phuphu and their bodies are in the decoy grave that was meant to mislead whites chasing after the king so as to buy him time to escape from Allan Wilson and his troops who were in hot pursuit. (Source: @RealMzalaTom)
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