The death of King Makhosonke Mabhena leaves big questions about whether King Mbusi Mabhoko will ever return the whole Ndebele throne to the Manala house, writes Celani Sikhakhane in Royal Mzansi.
The AmaNdebele Kingdom is mourning the death of King Makhosonke Mabhena II. His passing opens up huge questions about who will succeed him. People are looking at whether the Ndzudza royal house will finally return the kingship to the Manala house.
Right now, the Ndzudza clan has their own leader, King Mbusi Mabhoko II. Rules say the Ndzudza family must not appoint a new leader when King Mbusi Mabhoko II passes away. Instead, they must give the throne back to the Manala house.
This royal split goes back a long way. The Ndebele nation suffered deep divisions in the fifteenth century when King Muzi died. He made a mistake and did not name his successor before he died.
Because of this mistake, his two sons both claimed the throne. Manala and Ndzudza both declared themselves as kings of the AmaNdebele. The two brothers ended up fighting a war over the crown.
Manala stayed in the area that is now KwaNdebele. Ndzudza took his followers and left for the eastern part of the kingdom. They settled around the Steelpoort River.
The democratic government had to step in later to fix the fight. Former president Thabo Mbeki set up the Nhlapho Commission to investigate the matter. The commission ruled that the Manala house is the rightful leader of the whole Ndebele nation.
This ruling made the late King Makhosonke Mabhena II the legitimate leader. The commission said King Mbusi Mabhoko II must not close his office abruptly. He must continue until he passes away, but his family cannot name a new heir.
The Ndzudza house did not accept this and took the Nhlapho Commission to court to fight the decision. They lost that legal battle in 2017. So far, there is no proof that King Mbusi Mabhoko II wants to unite with the Manala house.
Pictured above: King Mbusi Mabhoko II of the AmaNdebele Kingdom under the Ndzudza royal house.
Image source: AmaNdebele Kingdom (Instagram)
