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King Ntshosho Zwane II

Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
SOUTH African Amangwe clan King Ntshosho Zwane II would be in Zimbabwe this weekend to meet his subjects and attend a cultural celebration to be held in Ntabazinduna under Chief Khayisa Ndiweni’s area.

King Ntshosho Zwane II will be accompanied by a 12-member delegation from South Africa with 13 more people from Swaziland also expected to attend.

This year’s theme is Imvuselelo Yamangwe (The revival of Amangwe Culture).

The Amangwe clan, which uses the Ndiweni, Mbambo and Zwane surnames, is spread across southern parts of Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.

Spokesperson of the Amangwe cultural grouping in Zimbabwe, Sithembile Mbambo said they expected the King to arrive in Zimbabwe this Friday.

“The King will arrive aboard an Air Zimbabwe plane and we’ll tour some places in the city (Bulawayo) ahead of a briefing on Saturday. Thereafter, the King will tour Amagugu International Heritage site in Matopos,” said Mbambo.

She said they were looking forward to hosting the King adding that the celebrations were open to anyone.

“It’s always exciting to host the King and we’re looking forward to the day as it has been two years since he came to the country. On the day we shall have a lot of cultural festivities such as traditional dances. This isn’t just for the Amangwe, it’s for everyone who wants to celebrate culture, meaning all are welcome to celebrate with us, said Mbambo.

King Ntshosho Zwane II was installed in 2000 and in 2012 he reunited with his Zimbabwean subjects that had been separated from the Amangwe line for more than 180 years.

The Amangwe celebrations started in 2011 at Sizane High School in Bulawayo with King Ntshosho Zwane gracing the 2012 event that was held at Chief Wasi Ndiweni’s homestead in Macingwana village, Plumtree.

In 2013, the celebrations were in Kezi at Chief Nyangazonke’s homestead where King Ntshosho Zwane II from South Africa could not attend due to ill health of former South African President Nelson Mandela.

In 2014, the celebrations were back in Bulawayo at Amakhosi Township Square Cultural centre and that was the last time the King came to Zimbabwe.

It is believed that the founding Ndebele King, Mzilikazi Khumalo, was born of Nompethu KaZwide, daughter of Chief Zwide of the Ndwandwe people.

However, a lot of evidence has been presented including the large number of Amangwe chiefs in his nation that Mzilikazi could have been born of Cikose Ndiweni, of the Amangwe ethnic group.

In Ndebele history, it is argued that Mzilikazi, a chief at the time, was assisted by his mother’s people, Amangwe, to land the royal kingship of the Ndebele nation.