HISTORY OF THE MONARCH

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space in your most popular newspaper to tell an interesting short history of how the monarchy survived a series of coup d’état from within the royal house in the past. I believe that those who like or are interested in Eswatini history will enjoy reading it.

When King Sobhuza I fled from an attack by Zwide Ndwandwe and took refuge at Dhlomodhlomo in the upper Komati, Prince Magwegwe tried to usurp his position and he was killed. 

There was another attempt by Prince Ngwekazi to take control of the Dlamini during this time but Maloyi, the ruler of the Mamba clan objected and restored Sobhuza I to his rightful position.

After the death of King Sobhuza I, young Prince Mswati was chosen as his successor. Prince Fokotsi, who was King Sobhuza I’s first-born son resented the choice of Mswati II as king. He then forged an alliance with princes Mfipha of Nkhungwini and Ndlaphu of Lundzi in an attempt to dethrone the newly-crowned king. The rebellion was also supported by their brother, Prince Ndlela. However, an army led by Prince Malunge (son of King Ndvungunye) and Prince Somcuba (eldest son of Sobhuza I and his first wife LaMndzebele) cornered and killed both Fokotsi and Mfipha on the Mahamba Hill.  Ndlaphu escaped. Later, Somcuba became estranged to King Mswati II because he started to dance his own Incwala. This forced the King to kill him. The death of Somcuba in turn compelled his son, Prince Msutfu, to kill many emaSwati in order to quench his thirst for revenge for his father’s execution.

Murder

It is said that King Sobhuza I had initially declared Prince Malambule as his successor but later relented on his promise. As compensation for his disenchantment the King gave Malambule over 300 herd of cattle. Malambule was not pleased. He later tried to murder King Mswati II during a hunting expedition but such a ploy was averted. He was later killed by Mpande, king of the Zulu. Prince Sidvubelo, who had sided with his elder brother Malambule fled to Zululand. He later returned to Eswatini where he died. Other princes who conspired against King Mswati II were Mgidla, Hhobohhobo and Tsekwane. The former two princes were later executed while Tsekwane fled to Zululand. He later returned to Eswatini and was pardoned.

After the death of King Mswati II, Prince Macaleni (Ludvonga II) was chosen as King. This did not go down well with Prince Mbilini, who was King Mswati II’s favourite son. Mbilini wanted to be king but because he was the first- born son he was excluded from kingship. He defected to Zululand with his brother, Prince Memezi, where he joined the Zulu army and became a celebrated warrior. He became known as a notorious treacherous outlaw after killing many emaSwati and white settlers. A bounty of 1000 pounds was put on his head for his crimes and was eventually shot and killed by Sinnaquie, a member of a British patrol led by Captain J.E.H Prior.

Following the death of King Ludvonga II, princes Ndlela and Ndwandwa, who were both sons of King Sobhuza I, were implicated in the king’s death and executed. Ndwandwa’s homestead at Mbidlimbidli was annihilated.

Since King Ludvonga II died without an issue the obvious choice of heir to the throne was his brother, Prince Gija. Gija was given liphakelo at Nkamanzi near Mdzimba and was responsible for the area near Nkhaba where the Ngidi clan lived. Another very strong contender was Prince Mphangwa. However, Prince Mbandzeni was chosen to succeed the King instead. Angered by Mbandzeni’s nomination, Gija conspired with Princes Lukwabitsa and Mphangwa to murder Mbandzeni but failed. Mphangwa was executed shortly after King Ludvonga II’s death. Prince Mabhedla, who also supported the conspiracy of his brothers, started to dance his ‘little’ Incwala in Mpumalanga, South Africa. 

With the assistance of the Pedi he attacked and killed many emaSwati in Badplaas who paid allegiance to King Mbandzeni. Both Gija and Mabhedla later abandoned their mission. It is also said that Prince Nkhopolo, who was King Mswati II’s second son, also wanted to eliminate King Mbandzeni even though he was ineligible to succeed his father because his mother was from the Matsebula clan. Princes Logcogco and Mvelaphasi are said to have informed Mbandzeni of a plot to kill and replace him with Nkhopolo. Sandlane Zwane was incriminated in the plot and killed but Nkhopolo fled to the Transvaal. Also joining the list of the rebellious princes is Prince Mancibane, the son of Ndlaphu, who sided with Indlovukati Sisile to dethrone Mbandzeni. He, however, received royal pardon not long afterwards but Indlovukati Sisile was executed.

Babe N. Dlamini

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