Online Reporter
In the previous thread we discussed how Ndebele domination of the Transvaal began to crumble when an alliance of the Dutch, Griqua and Rolong attacked Mosega. This invasion forced the Ndebele to migrate and flee northwards.
At the end of 1837, the Ndebele had fled accross the Limpopo River in disorder, headed in different directions. It is said that they eventually regrouped under King Mzilikazi at the Tswapong Hills in Ngwato territory in modern day Botswana. There, they celebrated inxwala.
At Tswapong, Mzilikazi’s followers numbered around 15 000. Others had remained in the Transvaal scattered in different directions and had to seek refuge from different clans.
At Tswapong, the leaders of umphakathi resolved that the people were too many to migrate as a group.
There was also debate on where next to go. They eventually divided into two groups. The largest group was led by Majijili Gwebu, Nkaliphi Khumalo and Gundwane Ndiweni.
Mzilikazi led his group north while the other went east as per the directions given earlier by Robert Moffat.
Mzilikazi had crossed the Limpopo with iSizinda, Amabambo, Msizi, Nkani, Mfakoceba and Mpongo regiments. On their way, they had attacked the Ngwaketse of Makaba and the Kwena of Sechele.
After splitting with the other group, it is said that Mzilikazi invaded Sekgoma’s territory in central modern day Botswana. Some of the Ngwato fled towards Makgadikgadi as a result.
From Sekgoma’s territory, Mzilikazi sent some of his amabutho to the Kalahari. These men of Insinda became detached and moving north west, attacked the Tawana to the north of Lake Ngami.
Mzilikazi then raided the Kalanga groups in the upper Thekwane and Nata, where Insinda rejoined him after being repelled by Batawana.
Mzilikazi then left Kalanga territory and moved north through the Okavango into the lower Chobe valley.
In the lower Chobe valley he was blocked by the strong armies of Sebetwane’s Kololo. The area was also tsetse fly infested and Mzilikazi lost a lot of cattle and other livestock. After failing to cross the Zambezi, he decided to return to Bulilima.
He lost more cattle to tsetse flies along the way. From the upper Thekwane River, he crossed east to the Gwayi-Mbembesi confluence, turned south-east to the upper Mbembesi where he reconnected with the Nkulumane group leading to the first Ndebele civil war.
This account presents a gap in Ndebele history.
Did Mzilikazi intend to rejoin the other group? At Tswapong hills did the Ndebele effectively split into two groups? If Mzilikazi had crossed the Zambezi river, what was his long term plan? Why was Nkulumane installed as king?
