Afrikaner descendants honour King Mzilikazi, seek reconciliation 7th September 2026 • Lulu Brenda Harris Nearly two centuries after their ancestors fought King Mzilikazi in battles that helped drive the Ndebele kingdom northwards from present-day South Africa, descendants of Afrikaner families have returned to Matabeleland seeking reconciliation with the Ndebele royal family. The South African delegation, led by Jacob Bekker and accompanied by Pieter Vlok and David Saaiman, attended the annual King Mzilikazi commemorations at Mhlahlandlela held Saturday, bringing a gift that Bekker described as a “gift of peace.” Their visit brought together two sides of a deeply intertwined 19th-century history, the Afrikaner Voortrekkers led by Andries Hendrik Potgieter, who fought King Mzilikazi’s forces and the Ndebele kingdom he eventually established in present-day Zimbabwe. “We just came to the conclusion that if you look at history, it’s only through reconciliation that we can build a better future, especially for the next generation,” Bekker said in an interview with CITE. On this topic • Nguluvhe warns traditional leaders against illegal land sales • Nguluvhe urges Matabeleland to turn King Mzilikazi heritage into jobs, tourism • King Mzilikazi commemorations is a unifier: Coltart The delegation’s visit follows an earlier meeting in Potchefstroom, South Africa, between Afrikaner communities and descendants of Mzilikazi, including Prince Hlabezulu Khumalo, in April. Bekker said the groups visited sites associated with the 19th-century battles, planted a cross and prayed together before holding discussions on peace and reconciliation. He said these meetings had prompted the delegation to travel to Zimbabwe for the King Mzilikazi commemorations. “We are looking to bring the Afrikaners and the Matabeles together in forgiveness, reconciliation, so that we can have unity, not forgetting who we are, where we came from, but that we can build a better unity and a better future for the next generation,” he said. The history they are attempting to reconcile dates to the 1830s, when King Mzilikazi’s Ndebele kingdom came into conflict with Voortrekkers moving north from the Cape Colony. Battles, including the 1836 Battle of Vegkop and subsequent Voortrekker attacks on Ndebele settlements at Mosega and Kapain, intensified pressure on King Mzilikazi, who eventually moved his people north across the Limpopo and established the Ndebele kingdom in present-day Zimbabwe. Among the most enduring stories from that period is that of the Liebenberg children, who were captured during an attack on their family in 1836 and brought before Mzilikazi. According to historical accounts, King Mzilikazi was angered that children had been taken captive and ordered their return. When that proved impossible, three children, Sara, Anna Mariah and Christiaan Liebenberg, were placed under the care of Chief Gundwane Ndiweni, given Ndebele names and incorporated into Ndebele society. Christiaan, who became known as Velapi, grew into a Ndebele warrior and was eventually appointed commander of the Nungu regiment before he was executed after falling out with Mzilikazi, according to historical accounts. Anna Mariah became Mswanyana and is said to have died in the journey across the Limpopo. Sara, who was known as Toloyi or Tololo, became part of the royal household and cared for the young Lobengula during the Ndebele migration north. Historical narratives say she effectively became the future King Lobengula’s mamo’mncane (aunt-like maternal figure), where she cared for Lobengula and carried him on her back (ukubhabhula) when he became tired during the long migration north. Bekker said such stories underscore why reconciliation cannot simply mean forgetting the past. “It’s a difficult road ahead, but if we can at least discuss what should be the next steps and just work through the past, many times the past hinders us from going forward in unity #foryou #foryou #fyp #viral - @matebeleland.united