Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

-236-
settle the question of authority in the government of KwaZulu 61 While
the nation continued to regard Mpande with respect and held his person to
be sacred, it felt that he was too passive and too infirm62 In 1857 at the
meeting of isizwe (nation) it was resolved that Mpande should continue
as the "head" ofthe nation because he was quite competent rationally, but
the nation also wanted "feet" added to the "head". Cetshwayo was then
recognised as the "feet" whenever action or movement was required.
Thus, all important matters were settled by Cetshwayo and Masiphula,
Mpande's principal councillor (or Prime Minister). Such matters would
then be ultimately referred to Mpande for final sanction. 63 This
arrangement was given the blessing ofthe Colonial authorities in Natal in
1861 when Shepstone officially installed Cetshwayo as Mpande's
successor.... This heralded a decade of placidity in the relations between
KwaZulu and the Natal Colony. Such complacency, however, was
shaken by Cetshwayo's growing antagonism and hostility towards Natal
after the death of Mpande in 1872. It is evident that Mpande throughout
his reign exercised a restraining influence on the martial character of the
Zulu kingdom.
61
6'
...
H. Brookes: atal - A History and description ofthe Colony. p. 246.
R.R.R. Dhlomo: Umpande KaSenzangakhol1ll, p. 63.
H. Brookes: Natal- A Historv and description ofthe colony. p. 247; R.R.R. Dhlomo:
Umpande kaSenzanl!3khona. pp. 63 - 64.
T. Cope: ··Shepstone and Cetshwayo". pp. 7 - 10.