Chief Fuyana: The warrior who delivered the fatal blow on Major Allan Wilson

Mbuthi Fuyana at Chief Mdilizelwa Fuyana’s grave in Maphisa Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter DEEP down in the hills of rural Matobo District sits Mbembeswana, a humble and unassuming village.Chief Fuyana was a member of King Lobengula’s Imbizo Regiment that was under the command of General Mtshana Khumalo which defeated the colonialist Allan Wilson Patrol during the Battle of Pupu on December 4, 1893, when the first shots of resistance against colonialism were fired in Zimbabwe.While the commander of the Ndebele forces on that victorious day, Gen Khumalo befittingly got all the praises for outfoxing the colonialists, not much is said about Chief Fuyana, who is reported to have delivered the fatal blow to Major Wilson at Pupu.The news crew also visited Chief Fuyana’s grave where a tombstone has been erected and inscribed with the words: “In loving memory of Chief Mdilizelwa Fuyana, Iqhawe le Sizwe.

Tracing the family history, Chief Fuyana’s grandson, Mr Sifanele Fuyana (65) said: “I am the only surviving elder, all my siblings have since died and I am last born in my family.Chief Mdilizelwa was the son of Maphisa Fuyana, Chief of Isizinda Village /Regiment.