Shona and Ndebele relations
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A mural of Lobengula and Nehanda
The Ndebele and Shona are two tribes who live in present day Zimbabwe. They have had a controversial history that may include a genocide known as gukurahundi. The Shonas claim that the Ndebeles are colonisers no different from the Rhodesians. The Shonas claim the Ndebeles ran away from Shaka in Zululand, came to Zimbabwe and stole Shona women and cattle and killed thousands f Shona people. Shonas further accuse the Ndebele and Lobengula in particular of selling away the country to the white man for a packet of sugar. Today Shonas are fond of threatening to unleash Gukurahundi part 2 and revel in telling Ndebeles to go back to KwaZulu Natal.
On the other hand the Ndebeles accuse the Shonas of being the colonialists who came from Burundi and only arrived in the land in the 1700s. There is a book written about this theory called the Rebirth of Bukalanga written by Ndzimu Emmanuel. Here is the link https://kalanga.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/The-Rebirth-of-Bukalanga-Final-Version-on-Word-for-Internet.pdf. The book alleges that Kalanga are the native people of Zimbabwe who built Great Zimbabwe and the Mutapa empire. Meanwhile Shonas are late comers and interlopers who destroy everything they touch. Furthermore, the Ndebeles deny the allegations that Mzilikazi and Lobengula were aggressors who victimised the Shona. In fact, the Ndebeles say, it was the Shonas who gave up the land to the whites without a fight and went further and helped the British colonise Mthwakazi (their name for Matabeleland) in 1890. Ndebeles claim that during the liberation war in the 70s the Shonas were cowards who ran away from the Rhodesians and spent their time at all night pungwes raping girls, drinking beer and eating chicken. The accusations continue as the Ndebeles point the finger at the Shonas for orchestrating a the Gukurahundi genocide that they say claimed the innocent lives of 20 000 and some say 40 000.
Last week I saw a discussion on Youtube about Shona and Ndebele relations between the famous Joshua Maponga and Ndebele guests. The usual talking points about Ndebele aggression and Shona cowardice were brought up. The discussion ended up being a shouting match and was not constructive at all. Insults were thrown around and in the end it was a waste of time. Here is the video
The Youtube video is a damning indictment of the Zimbabwean educational system. It showed how little Zimbabweans know about their history. Maponga was asked what the Ndebele did to the Shonas and he could not answer. Then the Ndebele speaker made it seem like Mzilikazi was a saint who never hurt a fly. Anyone who has read a bit about precolonial Zimbabwe would have known the answer.
If I had been asked what the Ndebele did to the Shona I would have said the following:
Firstly, Mzilikazi is known to have killed Rusumbami, the Nambya chief. It is said Rusumbami had two hearts and Mzilikazi had him cut open to see if it was true. Apparently it was false, Rusumbami had only one heart.
Mzilikazi is said to have traded cattle for Kalanga children. The Kalanga had lost their cattle to Zwangendaba and the Ndebele needed servants so it was fair trade, I guess.
Mzilikazi then went to war with Tohwechipi Chibhamubhamu the last Kalanga chief and the Kalanga was defeated and fled to Buhera.
Then Mzilikazi went to war with Chief Hwata of the Mazoe area. Hwata was captured, brought to Mzilikazi and set free after agreeing to be a vassal of the Ndebele.
Then I would have brought up the crimes of Lobengula who killed the spirit medium Chaminuka, Kawodza the father of Kaguvi, Chief Nemakonde, Chief Chibi Mazorodze who was skinned alive and about 400 Shonas at Fort Victoria in 1893. So no, Lobengula and Mzilikazi were not saints but neither were they devils. They were complex humans like all of us.
If you want to know more about Shona Ndebele relations you can read DN Beach's article Ndebele Raiders and Shona Power here
There is more information about the Shona and Ndebele relations below
The Matabele War by Stafford Glass is a great read and gives a detailed account of Shona Ndebele relations, including a gory incident where a runaway Shona slave boy is assegaid to mince meat by Ndebele warriors who refer to Shonas as "food for their spears".
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Another great read is an account of the Matabele raid on Fort Victoria that killed 400 Shonas and has a scene where Ndebeles beg the whites to release the Shonas so they can kill them. Here is the link below
Below is a gory and harrowing account of the Shangani battle between the Ndebele and British which saw Shona slaves trapped between the two fighting factions and where the Ndebele slaughtered unarmed Shona women and children.
Some Shona from Quested’s camp were walking down to the Shangani river for water about 3:45 am and walked straight into warriors of the Isiziba Regiment. Two Shona were quickly killed, but the third managed to get away and ran back to the native laager raising the alarm. The amaNdebele immediately attacked Quested’s kraal and began to kill men, women and children there. Mr Quested, sleeping at the native laager, received the first attack, getting up to find the amaNdebele upon them and stabbing whoever they can find.
Jack Carruthers wrote, “(We) were endeavouring to get the loyal natives to come into the laager, but they were confused, running in all directions. Most of the women ran to the veld, only to be killed by the oncoming Matabele.”
Burnham, “over and above all, the din of the firing rose the shrieks and yells of the friendly natives as they were stabbed and slaughtered by the onrushing Matabele. It was on this occasion that some of the unfortunate friendlies got mixed up with the enemy and were swept up against our laager, willy-nilly, to be shot down by our own Maxim guns.”
Here is the link to the full article
https://zimfieldguide.com/matabeleland-south/battle-shangani-called-bonko-amandebele-25-october-1893
So for the Ndebele to act as if Mzilikazi and Lobengula were saints and pan-Africanists is disingenuous. Either they are lying or they are ignorant about their own history which they boast to know so much about.
Personally, I do not blame the Ndebele. It was and still is a dog eat dog world. To the victor goes the spoils. The Ndebele were strong and the Shona were weak. And nature has no pity for the weak. The Shona deserved to be exploited because they did not fight back and chose to be victims. I sometimes wonder why the Shona did not make their own shields and assegais and fight back. Perhaps we really were and we still are spineless cowards. The Ndebeles should not be ashamed of their history not matter how bloody and violent it was.
Furthermore, Ndebele Shona relations in precolonial times were not always acrimonius. There were times when Shonas and Ndebeles got along. For example, Lobengula and Chaminuka were allies at one point. Lobengula would give cattle and wome to Chaminuka and Chaminuka would perform rain making rituals for Lobengula. The Ndebele did offer protection in exchange of tribute from various Shona chiefs like the Hwata dynasty. Sometimes the Ndebele would lend cattle to their Shona allies such as Chief Gomara to be used for milk. One must remember that the Shona were not one united nation and different Shona chiefs often fought each other. Thus the Ndebele would often fight on behalf of Shona chiefs against their enemies. There was even a group of Karangas known as the Dumbuseya who adopted Nguni dressing and raided other Shona communities. There is an account of the Ndebele defeating the Dumbuseya after they attacked Chief Mposi of the Lemba who was an ally of the Ndebele.
The Shona are not entirely blameless. There are accounts of Shonas attacking Ndebele women and hacking off their legs as well as accounts of Shonas like Chief Bere stealing Ndebele cattle. Shonas also peddle falsehoods and distort history. It is a lie that Lobengula sold the country to the whites. He did give them mining rights in exchange of a gunboat, weapons and gold. Some say Lobengula was the only leader in Zimbabwe history to sign a mega deal that brought real development. Nevertheless, Lobengula naively thought the whites would mine for gold and then leave the land. He was mistaken.
Yes it is true that the Shona did not resist the British Pioneer Column. Many of them saw the white men as protectors from the Ndebele and others thought the whites would mine gold and leave thereafter. And it is true that the Shona and the Bechwana helped the whites to defeat the Ndebele who they feared and hated.
It is also true that Gukurahundi did happen and it was unjustified and cruel. There are plenty of books and documentaries about Gukurahundi. Below is a book that gives a vivid account of the genocide. It makes for grim reading but is essential. Gukurahundi in Zimbabwe by Columbia/Hurst.
Below is the best documentary I have seen on Gukurahundi by Zenzele Ndebele
Was it revenge on the Ndebele by the Shona for historical grievances? Was it politics between Zanu and Zapu? Whatever the cause it was wrong. However, I doubt there will be an apology, a truth and reconciliation commission or monetary compensation for the Ndebele genocide. At least not in the near future. Those guilty of Gukurahundi will never be punished or be locked behind bars. There will be no Mthwakazi independence and the thought of a separate Ndebele kingdom will remain a dream. The wounds will continue to fester and there will be no healing. Such is life. Sometimes there is no justice in this cruel world.
However, I do believe the Ndebeles should be included in the national discourse. They should not be treated as foreigners. Matabeleland must be renamed to Mthwakazi, the Ndebele king must be officially recognised and Mzilikazi Day must be recognised as a public holiday in Matabeleland. That is the least the government can do.
Tribal rivalry is commonplace in Africa and the world at large. There is nothing new under the sun and the Shona Ndebele rivalry is strange or peculiar. However, peace must always be the goal. The Hutus and the Tutsi made amends, so did the Germans and the French. And thus, we must strive to live in harmony with each other despite historical differences. The truth is that on the ground most Shonas and Ndebeles get along well. They intermarry, work and live together. It is only in football stadiums and social media where there is acrimony. In reality, we are all Zimbabweans and we must live together whether we like it or not.
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