Zibhebhu kaMaphitha

Who was Zibhebhu kaMaphitha?

Zibhebhu kaMaphitha was a Zulu chief 1883-1884; rival of Cetshwayo.

Zibhebhu was a son of Maphita, son of Sojiyisa. He was one of the 13 'kinglets' allocated land in the aftermath of the Anglo-Zulu War, and vied for the royal succession with another of Cetshwayo's sons, Dinuzulu. The British, seeing the futility of the division of Zululand, determined to restore Cetshwayo as the ultimate chief. However, they left Usibepu alone and his lands intact.

Both Zibhebhu and Dinuzulu befriended Boer mercenaries to help them in their claims. On the 22 July 1883, led by a troop of mounted white mercenaries, Zibhebhu made a sudden descent upon Cetshwayo's kraal at Ulundi, which he destroyed. All Zibhebhu's men wore a piece of leopard skin round their heads as a distinguishing mark. Cetshwayo escaped, though wounded, into Nkandla forest. After repeated pleas from the Resident Commissioner, Sir Melmoth Osborn, the king moved to Eshowe, where he died a few months later, possibly by poisoning.

Dinuzulu was left to fight for the succession, and with the help of General Louis Botha and Dinuzulu's Volunteers defeated Zibhebhu and his army at the Battle of Ghost Mountain.