The making of the Maduna chieftainship

Mzala Tom

THE Maduna-Mafu chieftainship was established soon after the arrival and assimilation of the Mafus by King Mzilikazi after the collapse of Zwide KaLanga’s Ndwandwe State.

The Mafus were incorporated into the Ndebele State at EZinyosini on the Vaal River, uLikhwa around 1823-24. Mahubo Mafu distinguished himself through his military exploits and became popularly known as Dambisamahubo. King Mzilikazi appointed Mahubo Mafu to lead uGodlwayo regiment which had been created to absorb the new clans that had joined him.

After the death of Dambisamahubo, Mthikana, a twin with Ncozana became the chief. Mthikana and his people lived at present day Godlwayo Farm, a few kilometres east of Bulawayo.

Chief Mthikana married Princess Makhwa Khumalo the daughter of King Mzilikazi. As per Ndebele succession customs, her son, Maduna succeeded Mthikana Mafu when he died. It is after Maduna that the Godlwayo chieftaincy is named.

Chief Maduna was prominent in the war against colonisers during the Anglo-Ndebele War of 1896. The Godlwayo people being led by Maduna and Ncozana killed some white settlers east of Insiza River.

Chief Maduna became a wanted and hunted man. He fled to Mberengwa at EMpatheni. He was eventually captured. When he was about to face trial, the sole witness against him was struck by lightning, resulting in his acquittal.

Maduna was succeeded by his son Jim. Chief Jim Maduna reigned when the people of Insiza District including the sub-district of Fort Rixon (EMakhandeni) were being evicted to create room for whites. Godlwayo people were moved further south to the Insiza District.

The next chief in the line of Godlwayo chiefs was Vezi Maduna Mafu. Vezi Maduna became a liberation fighter who engaged the Smith regime head on and was incarcerated at various prisons as a result.

In 1960 Vezi Maduna joined the National Democratic Party (NDP) led by Joshua Nkomo. He was arrested several times until he went to Zambia on self-exile, a year before the establishment of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

Towards the late 1970s he was arrested with other Zapu activists and was detained at Whawha prison. There, Chief Maduna served time alongside the likes of Makhathini Guduza, Dauti Salatiel Mabusa, Joseph Malunga, Sidney Malunga, Elliot Maphenduka, Welshman and Norman Mabhena.

Following independence in 1980, he became a Zapu councillor and Chairman of the Insiza Rural District Council. At the Zapu Congress of 1984 Chief Maduna was elected to the Central Committee and after the 1987 Unity Accord, he served in the National Assembly. Chief Maduna died at the age of 86 in February 2021. He was succeeded by his son, Dambisamahubo Mafu, who was installed as Chief Maduna at Dekezi secondary school, Insiza District (Filabusi), in Matabeleland South yesterday. (Source: @RealMzalaTom, additional reporting by Sunday News)