Mpande's - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

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new practices and ideals for his people merely on the basis of personal
choice. While the will of the people drew up some ultimate limitations
for what might be resolved at Mpande's palace, vestiges of a somewhat
democratic element could be observed."
The limitations to Mpande's personal authority as represented by his
council and the general attitude ofhis people, do not, however, contradict
the fact that his royal court was the forum in which all important
decisions for the nation were actually taken." Neither were these
limitations of such a kind as to prevent the repercussions from the centre
ofpower around Mpande from being experienced all over his domain. In
fact the socio-political units of different kinds throughout the kingdom,
were highly dependent upon the decisions made at the king's court."
As the political and social revolution of Nguni society - carried out by
Shaka in the 1820's and maintained by Mpande - was effectuated by
force, the military system was one of the basic pre-suppositions for this
process of development." Occupying a considerable part of a Zulu man's
time and labour from puberty to the age of about thirty five, the military
apparatus was probably the political institution within the new national
31
33
"
RC. Lugg: A Guide to the Zulu social sYstem. p. 23.
Ibid., p. 24.
E.J. Krige: The Social System ofthe Zulus, p. 219.
J.D. Omer-Cooper: The Zulu Aftermath - A nineteenth Century Revolution in BanIU Africa.
p.207.