LOBENGULA’S “BULAWAYO” 1870-1893 Founder of the Ndebele State, King Mzilikazi Khumalo arrived in Zimbabwe in 1838. Based initially near Nyathi, in 1863 he moved closer to the Matobo Hills founding eMhlahlandlela. After Mzilikazi’s death in 1868 Lobengula Khumalo was crowned king at eMhlahlandlela on 22nd February 1870. Shortly after a new capital was erected. Initially called Gibixhegu, Lobengula renamed it koBulawayo in 1871. In September 1881 koBulawayo was abandoned; Lobengula building a new “Bulawayo” at eMahlabathini where State House now stands. This was destroyed on the orders of Lobengula on 3rd November 1893 after he fled northward to avoid the invading Settler forces. In the 1990s the royal centre, the isigodlo, of Old Bulawayo (koBulawayo) was reconstructed by National Museums & Monuments of Zimbabwe as a place of national historical significance. Sadly it did not receive the anticipated public support and it was accidentally destroyed by a massive runaway veldfire in 2010. Many other Ndebele villages lie forgotten in and around Bulawayo. The village of eMabugudweni covers much of Queens Park suburb. eNgutsheni, the regimental village of the Ingubo Regiment is in the grounds of the Ingutsheni Hospital. eMatlogotlogo, where Mzilikazi met with the missionary Robert Moffat and where Lobengula lived before 1870 is close to the transmission tower near Fortunes Gate suburb.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 07:38:36 +0000
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