Zimbabwean Delegation Has Found The Grave Of King Lobengula In Zambia

A Zimbabwean delegation has found the grave of the Ndebele monarch, King Lobengula, in Zambia over 130 years since his disappearance.

On 22 March 2024, historian Phathisa Nyathi, along with King Lobengula’s descendant, Midard Khumalo, National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe researcher Dr Senzeni Khumalo, and Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet in Charge of Social Services Reverend Paul Damasane, embarked on the fact-finding mission to Zambia. President Emmerson Mnangagwa funded the mission.

Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Zambia, Charity Charamba, and her counterpart representing the country in Malawi, Dr Nancy Saungweme, facilitated the delegation’s meeting with King Mpezeni, who confirmed that King Lobengula lived with them and was buried among them.

King Lobengula’s last sighting dates back to December 4, 1893, as he rested under a Mutswiri (Leadwood) tree following the Pupu Battle. During this clash, Lobengula’s Imbizo Regiment, led by General Mtshane Khumalo, successfully defeated Major Allan Wilson and his settler forces despite facing superior weaponry like Maxim guns and cannons.

For 130 years, it was public record that King Lobengula disappeared after the Battle of Pupu. However, there were rumours suggesting his escape to Zambia.

The Zimbabwe delegation confirmed that upon his arrival in Zambia, King Lobengula lived among the Ngoni people under Chief Mpezeni.

King Lobengula’s New Life In Zambia

It took the Ndebele monarch four months to reach Zambia after the Battle of Pupu, settling among King Mpezeni’s people in Chipata, about 100km from the country’s border with Malawi.

His escape is said to have been aided by Chief Pashu Sianganza, who helped him cross the mighty Zambezi River. They then decoyed the colonialists by killing General Magwegwe Fuyana and placing King Lobengula’s artefacts on his purported grave to trick the enemy into believing that he was dead.

From their trip, Nyathi said, they also gathered that King Lobengula became an advisor to King Mpezeni, given that they were in the same predicament of colonial oppression. He told The Herald:

“Beyond Pupu, what happened to the King? That is the question that we need to answer,” said Nyathi, as he chronicled how King Lobengula sought refuge among the Ngoni people. The King never disappeared, but crossed the Zambezi River and settled in Chipata after four months and he lived with the Ngoni people for four years.

“So, when we arrived, they confirmed they knew King Lobengula. They told us they were disappointed because we came too late when the people who actually saw him had already passed on. King Lobengula died in 1897.”

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The Tomb

Nyathi said they established King Lobengula was laid to rest at Sanjika Cave. He said King Mpezeni’s people also showed them the site where King Lobengula was buried in line with the Ndebele traditions.

“But even when he died, the exact spot was kept a closely guarded secret, but to some of us, that is not a problem. Some cultures will use archaeology, others will use geophysical surveys and Africans do these things their own way,” said Nyathi. “The President availed the resources after he was briefed by Rev Damasane because he understands our culture and supports us. It is not the end, and commissioning of the Pupu Battlefield Memorial Site has since been done.”

King Lobengula’s descendent, Ms Khumalo, said they are excited about the discovery.

She said the trip was important as it provided a link to how King Lobengula moved from the Mutswiri tree, where he was last seen, to Zambia, where he died.

“Our Pupu Battlefield story ends at the Mutswiri tree, and what happened after that is the research that we are doing, starting from the Mutswiri tree to Zambia where the paramount King Mpezeni is,” Ms Khumalo said. We were welcomed by the paramount chief and the Ngoni people and they showed us where King Lobengula was laid to rest.

“We didn’t go there directly to the cave, but we stood at a distance, probably about 800 metres away. Our aim was to conduct research and get information from King Mpezeni and his people. We got the narrations from the local community. We are going to publish a book about our trip.”