Commission of Inquiry: Mswazi and Makalaka (Palapye, March 1945)

 Kombani should have explained that after the Europeans fought against the Matebele, they cut off a strip of land which they gave to the Bamangwato; this is how we came into the Ngwato Reserve. Some of our villages were in this strip of land and some on the Rhodesian side; I think of the villages of Mswazi. When we found that our villages were on Khama’s side of the boundary we appealed to him.

“When the boundary had been fixed, Mswazi himself was on this side of the boundary. The people of Mswazi who were on the other side of the boundary decided to come over to this side to be with their Headman. They then went to see Chief Khama.  Before this boundary was fixed, we were under the Matebele. I was big and herded cattle at the time.  Before the Europeans came an impi was sent towards Lewanika’s place.  - - -  I want to make it clear that we did not come from Rhodesia, but have always lived in the area we are now in. By saying this I do not mean it as a claim to any part of the land which was given to the Bamangwato; I only say we were in the same area as the Matebele.”