Online Reporter
Mzala Tom
In the late 1800s, as the scramble for Africa intensified, African rulers sent envoys to discuss concessions with Queen Victoria, ascertain her intentions, explore treaties and peace. King Lobhengula was no exception.
In the last days of his kingdom, Lobhengula’s capital was flooded by hunters, missionaries, explorers and other concession seekers who all claimed to represent the Queen of England. The king then decided to send his own envoys to meet the Queen on his behalf.
Other African groups that sent delegates to Queen Victoria for various meetings and political negotiations included the Zulu nation, the Gaza under Ngungunyani, the Swazi and baTswana chiefs.
Lobhengula sent his envoys after signing the Rudd Concession in October 1888 after much deception and pressure from his trusted friends including Reverend Charles Helm. Helm also altered Lobhengula’s letter to the Queen asking for his territory to become a British protectorate.
Part of Lobhengula’s letter to the Queen read as follows: “Lobhengula desires to know if there is a queen. Some of the people who come into this land tell me that there is a queen, some of them tell me there is not. Lobhengula can only find out the truth by sending eyes to see whether there is a queen. The indunas are his eyes. Lobhengula desires to see, if there is a queen, to ask her to advise and help him, as he is much troubled by white men who come into his country and ask to dig gold…”
Lobhengula’s envoys were chiefs Babayana Masuku and Lotshe Hlabangana. They left for London in November 1888 via Pretoria, and then boarded a train from Kimberly to Cape Town. From Cape Town they sailed to London. They carried gifts for the Queen.
Queen Victoria presented each of them with gifts and they were taken on a tour of London’s attractions including the Alhambra musical variety theatre, museums and art galleries, Madame Tussaud’s waxworks and the London Zoo and the gold vaults of the Bank of England.
The major highlight of their trip was the military display of naval ships at Portsmouth followed by artillery live-fire at Shoeburyness firing range, which was followed up by visits to Woolwich arsenal and Chatham naval dockyard.
The peak of the military display was the army manoeuvres at Aldershot. Ten thousand soldiers took part, which included a cavalry charge on the artillery.
Part of the letter from the Queen to Lobhengula read as follows : “The Queen sends Lobhengula a picture of herself to remind him of this message and that he may be assured that the Queen wishes him peace and order in his country. The Queen thanks Lobengula for his kindness which, following the example of his father, he has shown to many Englishman visiting and living in Matabeleland. This message has been interpreted to Mshete and Babayane in my presence…” The trip was co-ordinated by a businessman called EA Maud from the Bechuanaland Exploration Company that was co- owned by two of Queen Victoria’s sons in law. Maud desired to annex Matabeleland to become a part of Bechuanaland. Cecil John Rhodes outsmarted them.
The king was charged £600 for the trip of the two chiefs, which in today’s money is about £74 131, which Lobhengula paid from his treasury consisting mostly of some of the proceeds of fees paid by the multitudes of Europeans seeking concessions from him.
King Lobhengula knew that the tide of colonialism was about to engulf his kingdom. Sending envoys to the Queen was a last ditch attempt to perhaps strike a peace deal with the Queen with the hope that his kingdom would be spared or protected.
“Have you ever seen a chameleon catch a fly? The chameleon gets behind the fly and remains motionless for some time, then he advances very slowly and gently, first putting forward one leg and then another. At last, when well within reach, he darts his tongue and the fly disappears. England is the chameleon and I am that fly.” King Lobhengula’s words to Rev Helm, 1880. After the envoys returned, Lobhengula sent more letters to the Queen and never got any replies! The rest is history!
