NDEBELE king Bulelani Khumalo has been accused of trying to disrupt the 1893 Anglo-Ndebele war commemorations by insisting on a special chair for himself to grace the event.
The commemorations, which first began in 2011, were held at the Gadade Memorial Site in Matabeleland North a fortnight ago.
Thousands of Matabele fighters are buried at the site.
The commemorations were organised by the Umhlahlo Wesizwe SikaMthwakazi in honour of the thousands of Ndebele men killed while resisting seizure of their ancestral land.
On the day, traditional regiments referred to as Amabutho escorted Khumalo to the VIP tent and brought a personalised chair for him, much to the chagrin of the organisers.
Siphosenkosi Khuma, spokesperson of the Women, Law and Traditional Affairs under the uMhlahlo WeSizwe SikaMthwakazi, said they were not amused by the king’s drama antics.
“We wish to express our concerns regarding Amabutho’s behaviour during the Gadade commemorations held on November 9, 2024,” she said.
“It was observed that Amabutho escorted Mr Bulelani Khumalo with his own chair to the dignitaries’ tent even though we had provided chairs for everyone.”
She warned Khumalo against being dramatic during future commemorations, saying his antics were an unnecessary controversy.
“These commemorations are meant to honour the gallant sons who perished in the battle, not to elevate any individual above others,” she said.
“uMhlahlo WeSizwe SikaMthwakazi is not involved in the kingship wrangle and does not support any particular claimant.”
The Ndebele kingship has had several claimants in recent years.
These include Stanley Raphael Khumalo Tshuma, Peter Zwide Khumalo, Mcijwana Khumalo and Bulelani.
Mzilikazi was the founding father and first King of the Ndebele State when he left Nguniland after rebelling against King Shaka around 1826.
King Mzilikazi Khumalo died in September 1868.
Lobengula was crowned as the Ndebele king after the death of Mzilikazi.
It is believed that Lobengula died in 1894.
Lobengula was the last Ndebele king.
“On the day of the event, we had prepared our programme well as the organisers and there was nothing indicating that there would be a king, and since we don’t have one,” Siphosenkosi said.
“We then saw people arriving with their King, seating him down without consulting us, causing a commotion and disrupting our event.”
Khumalo said it was not true that he wanted to disrupt the event by stealing the show.
“We have some people who are against the king, and the chair issue is just an excuse,” he said.
Organisers of the annual 1893 Anglo-Ndebele war commemorations want the government to
On November 1, 1893, Cecil John Rhodes’ Pioneer Column conquered the Ndebele kingdom under King Lobengula.
Thousands of Ndebele warriors were mowed down by Maxim guns from all directions of the Pioneer Column’s laager.
The gallant soldiers belonged to the Imbizo, Ameva, iSiziba, iHlathi, iNsukamini and Ingubo regiments.
