Traffic between divided clan continues unabated

Many of the Matsenjwas living on the South African side of the border once lived on the Swazi side, while the same applies to the local Matsenjwas.
According to Moses Matsenjwa, an elderly resident of Gamula who is also a member of the local Matsenjwa’s Umphakatsi’s inner council (Bandlancane) many of the Matsenjwas from the Swazi side crossed the mountain to Manyiseni as a result of the persistent drought that set on their village, which he claimed goes as far as Ncandvweni.
He mentioned that Matsenjwas were not the only ones affected and decided to move up the mountain, but also the Mngomezulus and Nyawos.
The Matsenjwa territory began just a further up from the USA Distillers company and in between were the Mngometulu territory and lastly the Nyawos.
“But the gospel truth is, all three clans were once part of Swaziland until the Foot and Mouth cordon line dissected the areas leaving them that side. For examples, the Matsenjwas, whose main base was at Manyiseni now in South Africa used to dance their own Little Incwala just as it is done at KaNgwane. They would later come down the mountain and trek to Lobamba to dance the main Incwala. From as early as during the reign of Matsenjwa King, Gamula, they have been dancing both Little and Main Incwalas, while they have an important role to play in the ritualisation of the Main Incwala.” He said.
Matsenjwa continued that when King Sobhuza II intensified his struggle to get back the Swazi lands that were misappropriated when the present boundaries (read Foot and Mouth cordon line) were drawn up he sent a message to all the Matsenjwas at Manyiseni, instructing that some of them should climb down the mountain to swell the numbers of those already living at Gamula. This was in the mid 80s.
“This the wise King did to demonstrate amply that Manyiseni was part of the Swaziland before the cordon line. This would further strengthen his case with whomever he would deal with as he pursued the full return of the lost lands. His instruction was simple:
‘Return back to Swaziland to revive Gamula’s quarters, (‘Hambani niyovusa lilawu laGamula). “Gamula a revered leader of the clan had his quarters here, which he used for resting before proceeding to Lobamba to dance the Main Incwala. Since the distance was long from Emanyiseni, he erected his lilawu here, where he rested among some of his people before proceeding to KaNgwane.” Matsenjwa said.
He continued that when they asked the wizened as to on what will they live as the area was drought ravaged, the King promised to buy a farm for them and equip it with the necessary infrastructure, so they could pursue cotton and maize farming.  He narrated that it was in this manner that the divided people could visit each other freely without any immigration inhibitions, and it was how the informal crossings began.
“But during the height of the armed struggle for emancipation in South Africa, where cadres of the African National Congress (ANC) were returning from training abroad to wage sabotage activities in that country, the Boer army machinery attempted to close these informal crossings. They would arrest those nabbed crossing and charge them with immigration crimes. The King replied by setting up army camps along the Lubombo Mountain. He used to tell the Boers that the army would ensure that only South African Swazis would pass and not the ANC insurgents. In that manner the Boers relaxed their grip on the border, while former Army Commander Fonono Dube was charged with ensuring the full operationalisation of these army camps which still stand even today.
“The people still go through these camps where they leave their particulars. Late during the day they also pass at these camps on their way back home at Manyiseni.
The 72-year-old Matsenjwa mentioned that this arrangement had been working without any serious incident since the days of Gamula up to today.
“Matsenjwa chief Gamula was followed by, Mtjelekwane, who was succeeded by Sibhamu. Sibhamu was followed by Mankenke who was followed by Mbekwani and Mbekwani is the father of the current Manyiseni Matsenjwa chief Mbutfo.
He closed by mentioning that there were a sizeable number of local Matsenjwa children attending school at Manyiseni even though the reverse of such a trend was scarce.
“I think this is because education is much cheaper in South Africa as compared to the country,” he opined.

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