The Battle of Gadade (eMbembesi)

Mzala Tom

At Gadade the Matabele warriors relaunched their military onslaught on the advancing Pioneer Column.
They adopted the bull-horn formation. IHlathi, INsukamini, INqobo, ISiziba and INduba formed the right flank and led the attack.

UMcijo, Amavene, uJinga and INxa formed the left flank. IMbizo and INgubo, the crack Matabele regiments formed the military epicentre of the entire campaign.

They were commanded by Generals Mtshana Khumalo (uNdindikuyasa) and Fusi Khanye respectively.
Dr. Leander Starr Jameson, one of the prominent leaders of the invasions was later to express bewilderment at what he had witnessed at Gadade when the colonial invaders clashed with Matabele warriors:
‘The pluck of iMbizo and INgubo regiments was amazing…No troops anywhere in the world could have fought and withstood such terrific fire as was unleashed for half as long as the Matebele took it…hour after hour they kept coming’

“The amajaha fought extremely bravely in defence of their land, their king, their sovereignty, their nation, their dignity and pride as Matebele.

They fought until they blocked the nozzle of the Maxim gun with their leather aprons (amabhetshu) after spearing to death the operator of the machine.’

‘Alwa amabutho enkosi aze awuvala umlomo wesigwagwagwa ngebhetshu’ (Hudson Halimana ZTV, August,1992)
“In any age, in any land, of any men where brave deeds are sung or told; the feats of the Matebele on the plains of the Shangani and Mbembesi rivers will forever shine and glitter with the best and brightest” (Johanness Collenbrander, 3 November,1893)

Bayethe Maqhawe amakhulu!!!