The death and burial of King Mzilikazi

KING Mzilikazi reigned until his death in September 1868.. At the time of his death he was estimated to be in his late 70s or early 80s. His death followed that of his senior and closest wife Queen Loziba Thebe.

After the death of Queen Loziba King Mzilikazi is said to have been deeply devastated. He moved his capital eMhlangeni in Inyathi (Matabeleland North province) and established a new capital called eMhlahlandlela close to the Matobo hills (Matabeleland South province).

His health deteriorated and his legs were swollen most of the time. White missionaries tried to assist him with their medications but he was not healed completely. When his condition further deteriorated he requested to move to his Ingama kraal where he later died.

In his last days he lived in isolation though his 12 queens and izinyanga (traditional healers) were on standby to tend for him. When he died, his death was kept a secret. A few days later his remains were taken to the capital in a cart. His death was then publicly announced.

His body lay in state at the royal house closely guarded by the queens and the members of the council of chiefs. Two months of national mourning were declared. People were instructed ukuzila (mourning) until the king was buried.

A cave at a hill called Entumbane in Matobo was identified as a befitting place for the king's burial in terms of Ndebele customs. Black cows were slaughtered and sacrificed to pave way for the King to access the spiritual dwelling of his ancestor.

Amahosana, izanuse, izangoma, izinyanga zebutho and other spiritual practitioners performed various rituals to pave the way for the burial of the king at the sacred hills. The rituals were also important for his spirit to travel and reconcile with his ancestors.

King Mzilikazi's grave

The Matobo hills are sacred grounds where the Njelele shrine is located. It is in these hills where the multilingual God/Mwali communed with various peoples and pilgrims who sought for rain and other needs. For centuries Africans used to have pilgrimages to the holy hills.

When Mzilikazi established his kingdom he respected and revered Njelele as a holy shrine. A regiment was commissioned to look after the hills. Throughout his reign pilgrims had free access to the shrine to perform their rituals and worship Mwali (the creator) at Njelele.

The Mwali religion priests had granted the king conditional access to religious shrines. The king was required to honour Mwali with annual gifts of black cattle and provide security for the shrines. He was then allowed access to the Red Axe Shrine at the hill called Dula.

The hill known as Ilitshe lemikhonto/Ihloka elibomvu in Matobo is where the king worshipped Mwali. Ndebele armies appeased the king's ancestors before any military operations. The rituals were done under the supervision of the Mwali priests.

It was therefore, befitting that the king be buried in these sacred hills. On the burial day the king was interred inside a cave which was thereafter sealed with stones. His personal belongings were interred in another cave close by and sealed with stones as well.

A regiment was commissioned to look after the burial site. A kraal was established in the vicinity of the burial site and the soldiers lived there with their families. But now, tomb raiders have violated the grave site and stolen various artefacts like the king's bronze/gold bracelet.

King Mzilikazi's grave is currently derelict and in a sorry state. This is in stark contrast to the graves of Cecil John Rhodes and Leander Starr Jameson which are about 1,5km from the King's grave within the sacred hills. The Khumalos have since put a wall to protect the cave. The National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe says the King's grave is a private family grave of the Khumalo clan.