THE CHIMULENGA UPRISING
Chimulenga is a word of Shona language, which refers to “Revolution struggles”. The Ndebele were influenced to fight by their religious leader Mlimo. The war occurred in 1896-1897 on the Mashona and Matebele land, it started when the British South African Company’s Administrator General for Matebele land Mr Leander Starr Jameson, had sent most of his troops and armaments to fight the Transvaal Republic.
Other leaders of the Chimulenga war were Mashaykuma of the Zezuru Shona, Mashayamombe and Kagubi (religious leader) of the Shona. Hwata and Nehanda Nyakasikana.
Chimulenga war
It is also known as the Ndebele, Shona uprising. The uprising occurs in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). The natives confronted the BSACO “British South African Company” regime from 1896 to 1897.
THE CAUSES OF THE WAR
The Ndebele, Shona uprising was backed by a number of factors the prominent ones being:-
The destruction of the Induna age regiment of the Ndebele. The BSACO prohibited the ethnical military groups such as the Induna. The military villages of the Induna were destroyed and the laws were passed to abandon it. This provoked the Ndebele to wage a war against the British.
The crossing of the soldiers in Matebele and Mashona land: The British employed the Ndebele policemen in Mashonaland and the Shona policemen in Matebele land. The BSACO took the advantage of the pre-colonial enmity between the Ndebele and the stone. This provoked the natives to fight.
Land alienation: As it was in others, the natives where remove from their land to allow the settler activities, the construction of railways, roads etc. Example, the Ndebele who were predominantly pastorists and crop producers were pushed into reserve land in Shangane. The land was infertile with less water for livestock and there were tsetse flies. The Shona too were removed from their land.
Forced labour: The natives were indirectly or directly forced to serve the white settlers as cheap labour. Colonial Taxation, land alienation and other factors indirectly forces the Africans to sell their labour force to the Europeans. The Africans were also directly forced to work without pay in construction of roads near their areas, prisoners too were forced to work.
Colonial Taxes: The British South African Company administrators established various taxes. The natives who failed to pay tax were subjected to tortures such as prisons etc. this too provoked the natives to resist.
The outbreak of the Rinderpest disease in Mashona and Matabele land: the native cults connected this with a curse from the spirits of the dead ancestors who weren’t happy with the white’s existence in their land. This is because the whites abused African civilization. To end the curse the whites ought to be removed by force. Also the BSACO killed the affected cattle so as to prevent the spread of the disease, this was considered by the natives as a mistake thus the whites deserved punishment. This could be achieved by fighting them. The Africans were also forced to sell their cattle to the white cattle dealers so as to reduce the size of their native herds.
Interference of culture: Each aspect of African culture was turned upsides down by the Europeans; the African political, economic, social ways of life and so on was upset. The Africans practices were despised by the whites to an extent of provoking the Africans.
Loss of independence: The natives sovereignty had gone beyond the boundaries of African territories, the indigenous authorities were no longer respected. The Africans wanted to restore their sovereignty which they had in pre-colonial time.
Jameson’s raid. When the British South African Company’s Administrator General for Matebele land Mr Leander Starr Jameson, had sent most of his troops and armaments to fight the Transvaal Republic, the natives used this chance to attack the British weak troops in Rhodesia, a war started.
Note: The BSACO defeated the Africans, the Africans lost the battle.
REASONS FOR THE NATIVE FAILURE
British military technology advancement: the British used advanced weapons and modern military techniques while the Africans used outdated weapons such as spears, arrows etc.
Lack of unity: Although they shared the enemy, the Ndebele and Shona didn’t join their efforts to fight the British fighters.
The British scorch: The British fighters destroyed African farms, villages, food stocks. This made the Africans weak due to shortage of food.
Wrong beliefs: The Africans believed on the assistance from their native cults. They believed that the whites would be weakened by the invisible power of the African magic (witchcraft). A layman approach to the problems.
Lack of military preparation: The Africans fought the whites without thorough military preparations. This made them weak and exposed to loss. The natives didn’t involve scientific approach in handling the British.
