A Brief Guide To Matabeleland

The proposed nation of Matabeleland currently makes up part of Zimbabwe. It has a rich history and culture embodied by its Ndebele people.

Location:

Matabeleland forms the western part of Zimbabwe. It is made up of three provinces, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and the town of Bulawayo, which is Zimbabwe’s second largest city. The region has the rest of Zimbabwe to the east, Namibia to the north and borders Botswana to the west. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people, with the term “Matabeleland” a European corruption of the word “Ndebele”.

History:

Ndebeles, who descend from Zulus, settled in what has become Matabeleland in the 1830s. European nations became increasingly prominent in the area surrounding Matabeleland with the discovery of gold in the region, with Matabeleland and neighbouring Mashonaland declared British protectorates in 1891. The British South Africa Company, promoting colonisation across large parts of Africa, battled with the Ndebele Kingdom in the First Matabele War (1893-94) and Second Matabele War (1896-97), with both Matabeleland and Mashonaland remaining part of Rhodesia at the end of the conflict.

Consistent conflict between the Shona and Ndebele took place in the new nation, with large numbers of Ndebele massacred in Matabeleland and Mashonaland and food supplies to the area restricted, which in turn lead to mass starvation. Mugabe’s controversial Land Acquisition Act (in which white-owned farms were redistributed to Africans) led to further problems, with squatting and land grabbing contributing to a huge drop in productivity in what had previously been fertile farming land.
Matabeleland are competing at the 2018 CONIFA World Cup, here’s everything you need to know about the tournament.

Political status:

The region, through the Matabeleland Freedom Party (MFP), is currently campaigning for independence from Zimbabwe. Underpinning their policies is the feeling of suppression by the Shona majority, but more specifically the oppression from Mugabe. The region has its own (proposed) flag, but very little in the way of political power or influence.

Demographics:

Although Matabeleland’s population is made up of predominantly Ndebele people, there are other, smaller ethnic groups that inhabit parts of the region, including the Venda, Kalanga and Tonga. As a result, Ndebele is also the most widely spoken language along with English. Shona is the most widely spoken language across Zimbabwe, with Ndebele second and English often used for business purposes. There are a further 13 minority languages across Zimbabwe as a whole.

Profile:

Population: 140,000 approx.
Capital: Bulawayo
Major languages: English, Ndebele, Shona
Currency: US dollar, South African rand
Major religions: Protestant, Catholic

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.