The destruction of Matabeleland and the dispersion of the African tribe was caused by the curiosity, self-righteousness, and greed by the forces that be, undermining the African Patriotism, through acts of terror that were imposed by white people who invaded this land with force through the use of guns and deception, using all tactics to subdue the Black-man even, using the Bible to deteriorate our minds. The words of Cecil Rhodes when he landed in the AFRICAN SOIL where, “I contend that we are the first race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race. Just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens of human beings: what an alteration there would be if they were brought under Anglo-Saxon influence.” It is obvious from this quotation that, from the first instance he was not here on a friendly note, but to destroy; disperse and enslave the African culture.
Cecil Rhodes dream was to conquer and subdue any African tribe that stood in his way, to his “riches”. Seemingly some Prospectors along the way had brought back tales of King Solomon’s Mines that were laid in ruins in Zimbabwe north of the Limpopo River. The only obstacle to his conquest were the Ndebele nation who were previously led by a warrior King “Mozelikatse” Mzilikazi, but Lobengula was already in throne by the time Rhodes active interest were sparked.
Under all circumstances Cecil Rhodes was determined man who had a vision, which didn’t include any African tribes except to take over the land, cattle and and all the resources he could find along his path of destruction.
He used all his tactical methods he would think of, unconcerned about the brutality he was causing to the people he didn’t see fit to be alive. He even used missionaries to deceive us, people like Rev Charles Helm of the London missionary society. The missionaries had a problem with the traditional authorities of the African people, who held firm their cultures and heritage, and this their cultures would tend to resist any large-scale conversion to Christianity, “The Bible, in short could not succeed without the gun. Hence, then he called upon his enforcer, Dr Starr Jameson, who was the leader of this body which was formed under false pretence, which crossed Limpopo and settled in Bulawayo, with no resistance from the Shona’s and establish the company rule” the British South African Company”, and which was endorse at Westminster on 29 Oct 1889.”The company was authorized by Queen Victoria’s Charter to make and enforce laws, raise and maintain a police force, and undertake “public works”, as well as opening mines. “If any king or government should then object to any of this that would be called a Rebellion. On 12 Sept 1890, Fort Salisbury, of the Mashonaland was taken over. Jameson draw a border line between Mashonaland and Lobengula territory which Lobengula angrily contested. Jameson was a man with mission in his hand, he killed most of the best man of Lobengula troops and Matabeleland was added to Mashonaland, but, not through conquest, as it was duly explained to few English critics of the policy, but by a reasonable and necessary act of British self-defense. On the 4 Oct 1893, the King withdrew from the scene and died. He died of smallpox, but fairytales proclaim that he died of broken heart. His surviving chiefs made peace with Rhodes, since the king was no-more with them. The peace was harsh, within few years,”virtually the whole of Ndebele land and by far the greater part of Ndebele cattle,” where in the hands of the whiteman, nearly 300 000 head of cattle. His last conquest was the African labour. The people of Africa, from their peaceful existence where forced to work for the Englishman. This was done by force or by taxes which were imposed on them to pay, and knowingly they took everything, we were forced indignantly to work. “So thus, Rhodesia was born in duplicity and violence.”
Fearing the uprising of the Ndebele people he took, King Lobengula son’s, Mpezeni; Nguboyenja; Njube; and Sidojiwa into dispersion and scattered them all over the world, between England and South Africa. The remains of Njube Rhodes Lobengula are buried in Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape. Isizwe Cultural and Heritage Group is to commemorate, and uplift the names of our heroes and heroines who were brutally slain in the name of self-righteousness and riches. The year 2012, is that time we need to bring back to our people, the African pride, which truly embraces our cultures and heritage, subsequently will uplift the Spirit of our nation through the ashes we’ve been condemned to, and remember the people who wholeheartedly fought for this land, to free us from the hands of Imperialism.
This year AFRICANISM is born, to declare ourselves free from the bondages of Poverty; Unemployment; Xenophobia; and Crime and strive for a Peaceful; Prosperous and One United Africa.
The Isizwe Cultural and Heritage Group is calling upon everyone in south Africa to participate in this extensive programme we envisage to undertake, for creating valuable day in the African continent to commemorate all our fallen heroes and heroines, King Lobengula; Chief Makana; Steve Biko; Chief Maqoma; Prince Nkulumane; General Lookout Masuku; Ndabaningi Sithole; Makhathini Guduza; and numerous others should be given due honour they deserve.
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