Chapter 323
Chapter 323: Ndebele Uprising
Constantine's peaceful inspection in Dodoma was suddenly interrupted by a telegram on April 2, 1871, bringing alarming news of a rebellion on the Matabele plateau against the rule of the East African kingdom. This rebellion caught the king's attention due to its unprecedented scale.
The Ndebele people, a branch of the Zulu, were originally not native to Zimbabwe. They migrated to the area in the early 19th century under the leadership of Mzilikazi, a former general of the Zulu King Chaka. They conquered local tribes and established the Matabele Kingdom with its capital in Bulawayo.
The social structure of the Ndebele people was heavily influenced by their military nature, with a clear division among men into different categories based on age and martial status.
While East Africa's rule in other regions was usually repressive, the Matabele Plateau had experienced a milder form of governance, allowing local indigenous ruling classes to maintain control. However, the Ndebele uprising marked a significant departure from this policy.
Constantine was furious about the rebellion, and he resolved to quell it decisively. The Ndebele uprising was distinct from previous resistance movements because it involved a large-scale organized rebellion that encompassed nearly the entire Matabele Plateau.
The Matabele Plateau's strategic location had made it a valuable part of East Africa's territory. The rebellion occurred during a period of instability when the Ndebele kingdom was weakened following the death of its leader Mzilikazi in 1868, and the subsequent struggle for the throne, which ended with Lobengula's ascension in 1870.
Constantine discussed the situation with Stewart, the Chief of Staff of the East African Army, and Wei Te, emphasizing the need for a swift response.
Stewart proposed using the well-equipped border guards stationed in the South Salzburg Province near Lake Malawi to suppress the rebellion quickly. He suggested that these troops head south to the Matabele Plateau, and when communication channels were established, border troops within the plateau could coordinate their efforts.
The king was determined to make an example of the Ndebele people. His instructions included capturing Lobengula, the rebel leader, dead or alive, enslaving all Ndebele people after the war, executing those who continued to rebel, and ruling them separately by region, preventing them from connecting with each other.
Constantine saw the Ndebele uprising as a grave threat and an opportunity to demonstrate the consequences of defying his rule. It also served as a warning to prevent the formation of a unified indigenous core against East African governance in the future.
For the East African government, the Ndebele uprising marked a significant challenge, as it was the first large-scale, organized, and premeditated indigenous rebellion in its history. The response would be swift and severe to ensure the rebellion was crushed decisively.
(end of this chapter)