Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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Mpande was incorporated into the Zulu army on the death of
Senzangakhona (his father) in 1816, but retained a submissive role during
the next few years. This convinced king Dingane (his half-brother) that
Mpande was a royal persona non grata (undesired person) and therefore
no serious threat to the kingship.' By maintaining a submissive posture
he was able to satisfy the royal scrutiny, and shortly before the
assassination ofking Shaka in 1828 he was allowed to marry at what was
in Zulu kingdom a relatively early age, being presented with his first wife
by the king himself.>
Mpande exercised a fair degree of autonomy over his adherents in inkosi
Senzangakhona's Mlambongwenya (or Mfemfe) homestead at Eshowe.
He built up a substantial support base, especially among the semi-
autonomous amakhosi (chiefs). This precluded Dingane from embarking
upon the same kind ofpurges as he did against his other half brothers and
potential rivals. 6
Mpande was blushed aside by Dingane until the early 1830's when he
became recognised as a potential candidate for the kingship.' In 1832
Dingane made an unsuccessful attempt on Mpande's life. In 1837
4
6
R Edgecombe (Ed): ·Bringing forth Light - five uacks on Bishop Co1enso's Zulu Missio!!,
pp. 47 - 50.
J.B. Wrightand D.R Edgecombe: Mpande kaSenzangakhona, C. 1798 - 1872. Cf
c.c. Saunders: Black Leaders in Southern African History, p. 45.
KC.. Stuan Papers. Notes on the life ofHenry Fynn, 1 May 1903.
A Kuper. The hou:s., and Zulu political structure in the 19'" Century, VoL 34, p. !O5.