Mlimo - Matebele Spiritual Leader
The second Matabele war, also known as the Matabele Rebellion or the second Chimurenga broke out on 20 March 1896 in Matabeleland Zimbabwe. The Mlimo (or M'limo, or Umlimo) the Matabele spiritual leader, was credited with fomenting much of the anger that led to this confrontation. He convinced the Matabele and the Shona that the settlers (almost 4,000 strong by then) were responsible for the drought, locust plagues and the cattle disease rinderpest ravaging the country at the time. The Ndebeles had lost a lot of cattle in the War of Dispossession and the few herds they were left with were now under threat from various diseases. To make matters worse, the white man randomly killed cattle to contain the diseases. No one was allowed to eat the meat, further infuriating the Ndebeles.
deangichukie
10/10/20220 min read
