adminFeature Lawson Mabhena
HISTORICAL enigmas that have remained unsolved don’t get better than the disappearance of King Lobengula, whose remains have never been found. A British army — over 300 white soldiers and locals of an equal number — which was commanded by Major Allan Wilson had been wiped out at Pupu along the Shangani River in Lupane, buying the second and last Ndebele monarch time to evade capture.
More troops were dispatched to bring the king dead or alive but because he had a head start, he was never captured.
Exactly 122 years on, some caves in Binga could be the key to unlock Zimbabwe’s most fascinating of unresolved mysteries.
This is where King Lobengula was last seen.
Tucked in a bushy area in Manyanda under Chief Pashu, what is now known as the Lobengula Caves has not been declared a national monument or explored by archeologists and history enthusiasts yet it is an integral part of the country’s colonial history and a centre piece to the puzzle on King Lobengula’s last chapter.
Chief Pashu’s great grandfather, Chief Nganza, not only hid with the king in the caves, but also “disappeared” with him. Chief Nganza himself is an integral piece of the puzzle as he is said to have died in Zambia, where he sought refuge from a relative, Chief Siampondo — this adding credence to a theory that King Lobengula spent his last days in Zambia.
This is also where the remains of King Lobengula’s most trusted general were found. It was this great find that the settler regime paraded as King Lobengula’s remains — but not for long. Chief Magwegwe Fuyana and King Lobengula were not of the same build. The invaders had to concede to the fact that they had been sold a dummy.
Although the caves are not being given the attention they deserve by Zimbabweans, the settlers know them too well.
In the 70s, at the height of the liberation struggle, the caves were sealed with concrete to ensure that freedom fighters never used them for refuge or to hide weapons. This was not before artefacts including traditional pots and a plaque indicating that this was the last place where British army scouts spotted King Lobengula’s footprints were removed.
Although most of the concrete has given in to the forces of nature, some openings at the caves and a natural water spring still remain sealed. The plaque is still missing and no road leads to one of the most important monuments in Zimbabwe.
“When a settler army searching for the king reached Dongamuzi (in Lupane), villagers misled them into believing that he had gone to Lusulu (in Binga) which was then called Siabulu. They first harassed villagers in Siawela, an area in Lupane that is now called Siwale. When the whites did not find King Lobengula, they killed the local leader, Siabulu, and a number of locals. They then named the area Sibulu.
“Chief Nganza received the king in Binga and led him to the caves. The whites, however, got to his area and asked for him. Unfortunately for them, the villagers were burying Chief Nganza’s younger brother, Siangoma. The villagers then took advantage of the opportunity and claimed that they were infact burying Chief Nganza.
“Chief Nganza was hiding because he knew that he would be killed for assisting the king. He took the Kariangwe direction. Kariangwe was still a forest. He followed the Sipungwe tributary before getting to Siachilaba, Siamakomba and Bulawayo Kraal. Chief Nganza new the route well. He went to his relative Chief Siampondo’s area in Zambia. Chief Siampondo had branched off from Chief Nganza to settle in Zambia. We do not know where King Lobengula went but we know that Chief Nganza went to Chief Siampondo’s area. He died in Zambia in Chisikili area under Chief Sinazongwe,” Chief Pashu, George Nyathi, explained.
The community of Manyanda once tried to take advantage of the “monument” by marketing it as a tourist attraction. But to lure tourists, structures had to be built close to the caves and potable water had to be guaranteed. Although a few structures were put up these collapsed during the Zimbabwean dollar era, leaving the caves as secluded as they were in the late 1800s.
“The elders would always tell us that one could disappear if they got too close to the caves. Four villagers appointed by Chief Nganza guarded the secret spot. Over the years, their eldest children who are all headman in this area became responsible for the caves. Headman Saimaundu is the supervisor,” Chief Pashu, whose homestead is only 8km from the caves, said.
“We are hoping someone will help us construct roads to the caves and put up structures there. These caves can go a long way in not only promoting our area, but preserving the history of the country. This can be a big tourist attraction in Binga just like the Lubimbi Hot Springs.”
Although most Zimbabweans have no idea about the Lobengula Caves, the villagers of Manyanda have refused to allow this integral part of the country’s history to die. Although the main road to the area is a dust road, the bus stops are named after the king who was last seen in their village — Lobengula 1, 2 and Last Lobengula bus stop.
Binga district administrator Mrs Lydia Banda-Ndethi said the caves could help promote the area.
“Whoever removed the plaque does not understand history and its importance. This is supposed to be a historical site,” she said.
National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe executive director Dr Godfrey Mahachi said although the caves had not been declared a national monument, this did not mean they were undeserving of such status.
“No, they are not a national monument but I must emphasise that this does not mean they are not deserving. It only means that we have not done comprehensive research and produced a document that shows why the place is of national importance,” he said.
Dr Mahachi said he would assign a curator from the BaTonga Museum in Binga to do preliminary work on the area.
Bongani Ndlovu