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ZANU PF official condemns omission of King Lobengula from Heroes Day exhibition
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ZANU PF Bulawayo Provincial Chairman Jabulani Sibanda has criticised the omission of King Lobengula from a Heroes Day photographic exhibition at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), arguing that Zimbabwe's liberation history should acknowledge the contributions of all its historical figures.
Sibanda said it was historically inaccurate to tell the story of Mbuya Nehanda without also recognising King Lobengula's role in the resistance against colonial occupation.
"You cannot tell the story of Mbuya Nehanda and leave out King Lobengula's role in Zimbabwe's First Chimurenga," Sibanda said.
The exhibition, facilitated by the National Archives of Zimbabwe, forms part of commemorative activities marking Heroes Day.
Sibanda argued that the country's history should be presented comprehensively, particularly when institutions such as the National Archives are involved in documenting and preserving the national record.
He said the omission of Lobengula risked creating an incomplete narrative of the armed resistance against colonial conquest in the late 19th century.
King Lobengula, the last sovereign of the Ndebele state, was a central figure during the period of the British South Africa Company's expansion into present-day Zimbabwe. His kingdom became a major target of colonial occupation, culminating in the Anglo-Ndebele War of 1893-1894.
The First Chimurenga, which included the Ndebele and Shona uprisings against colonial rule in the 1890s, is widely regarded as an important chapter in Zimbabwe's history of resistance.
Sibanda's comments come amid continuing debate over how Zimbabwe's liberation history should be represented and which historical figures should be accorded national recognition.
He called for a broader approach to historical commemoration, saying national institutions should ensure that Zimbabwe's history reflects the experiences and contributions of different communities and resistance leaders.
The controversy also highlights the continuing sensitivity surrounding the interpretation and presentation of Zimbabwe's pre-colonial and liberation history, particularly in a country where historical memory remains closely linked to questions of national identity and political legitimacy.
Sibanda said it was historically inaccurate to tell the story of Mbuya Nehanda without also recognising King Lobengula's role in the resistance against colonial occupation.
"You cannot tell the story of Mbuya Nehanda and leave out King Lobengula's role in Zimbabwe's First Chimurenga," Sibanda said.
Jabulani Sibanda correctly says you cannot tell the story of Mbuya Nehanda and leave out King Lobengula's role in Zimbabwe's umvukela. pic.twitter.com/Z5XJPKQ5SX
— Bulawayo24 News (@Bulawayo24News) August 16, 2026
The exhibition, facilitated by the National Archives of Zimbabwe, forms part of commemorative activities marking Heroes Day.
Sibanda argued that the country's history should be presented comprehensively, particularly when institutions such as the National Archives are involved in documenting and preserving the national record.
He said the omission of Lobengula risked creating an incomplete narrative of the armed resistance against colonial conquest in the late 19th century.
King Lobengula, the last sovereign of the Ndebele state, was a central figure during the period of the British South Africa Company's expansion into present-day Zimbabwe. His kingdom became a major target of colonial occupation, culminating in the Anglo-Ndebele War of 1893-1894.
The First Chimurenga, which included the Ndebele and Shona uprisings against colonial rule in the 1890s, is widely regarded as an important chapter in Zimbabwe's history of resistance.
Sibanda's comments come amid continuing debate over how Zimbabwe's liberation history should be represented and which historical figures should be accorded national recognition.
He called for a broader approach to historical commemoration, saying national institutions should ensure that Zimbabwe's history reflects the experiences and contributions of different communities and resistance leaders.
The controversy also highlights the continuing sensitivity surrounding the interpretation and presentation of Zimbabwe's pre-colonial and liberation history, particularly in a country where historical memory remains closely linked to questions of national identity and political legitimacy.
Source - online
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