According to James Shadrack Mkhulunyelwa Matsebula who was a Swazi linguist, writer and historian best known for the A History of Swaziland editions, who also worked as King Sobhuza II’s private secretary, there were elders from the Mbokane Clan that were leading the effort to restore the Mbokane Chieftaincy. According to him, they had traced living great great children of Chief Manzini in South Africa in the 1980s. In addition they verified that the children of Matthews Ntengu Mbokane (Ntengu II) are indeed the descendant of Chief Manzini and rightful heir to the Mbokane Chieftaincy is one of them.
They were trying to contact one of the sons of Ntengu II called Nkosana, based on publicly recorded genealogical trees published across Southern African historical databases document that Nkosana Absalom Mbokane a South Africa corporate executive and farmer is the youngest of the four sons born to Chief Ntengu II (Matthews) Mbokane and his wife, Anna Mabuza (LaMabuza). Public records make him the direct heir to the Mbokane Chieftaincy since all his brothers passed on. The Mbokane Chieftaincy lineage according to Regina Gelana Twala a towering intellectual, anthropologist, social worker, and political activist who lived and worked extensively in eSwatini links directly from Chief Manzini to Ntengu II as follows:
• Chief Manzini Mbokane: The historic King Mbandzeni’s senior advisor and leader of the Liqoqo (King’s Advisory Council), after whom the major city of Manzini, eSwatini was named in 1960.
• Chief Wamave Alphious Mbokane: The only son of Chief Manzini, who assumed the chieftaincy next.
• Chief Ntengu II Matthews Mbokane: The grandson of Chief Manzini. He was originally named the rightful successor by Chief Wamave due to his leadership capabilities but was deposed following a violent succession feud initiated by his eldest brother, Mandlakati. Consequently, Ntengu II fled to South Africa in the 1940s.
• The great-grandson of Chief Manzini. Since Ntengu II’s brothers (Mandlakati, Manzini II, and Samuel) died childless, Nkosana and his 10 siblings constitute the only surviving direct bloodline of Chief Manzini.
This is collaborated by Hilda Kuper an ethnographic researcher on Swazi kinship, ritual, and traditional governance. Hilda an influential social anthropologist who worked in close collaboration with the Swazi royal family particularly King Sobhuza II and his private secretary Matsebula stated that according to conversations they had with Matsebula, it was discovered that out of the four of Ntengu II’s sons, only one was still alive, and he is a South African prominent business executive, IT & AI specialist, corporate governance leader and a farmer in the Vaal area in the farm areas of Slangfontein South Africa.
Unfortunately after King Sobhuza II died, and subsequently Matsebula also died the efforts to communicate with the living descendants of Chief Manzini Mbokane stopped, despite the fact that they were in an advanced stage and efforts had already been made to contact Nkosana Absalom Mbokane who was easily traceable because he is a well-known business executive, IT specialist, corporate governance leader and farmer in South Africa.
According to Professor John Daniel, a South African academic and researcher who taught political science in Swaziland during his period of exile. He wrote and edited numerous research papers on Southern African political transitions, closely documenting Swaziland’s geopolitical role and Mbokane Chieftaincy genealogical trees during the Apartheid era. He indicated was asked to help with the trace, and he spoke with Matsebula and through Hilda’s assistance he had confirmed the lineage and verified that the heir to the Mbokane Chieftaincy was still alive and after it was confirmed that out of the four sons of Ntengu II only one was alive and he is Nkosana Absalom Mbokane, they had been in the process to contact him and Matsebula was coordinating with the Mbokane Clan elders to bring him to eSwatini to initiate the process to install him to the Chieftaincy using traditional, cultural protocols and planning to approach the Eswatini Kingdom.
Some traditionalist and Mbokane Clan elders still believe the great grandchildren of Chief Manzini who according to Matsebula can be traced in Vaal river area of Slangfontein should return to eSwatini to rebuild Mbokane Chieftaincy and connect with the clan. Although the Mbokane Clan remains one of the most powerful clan in the history of eSwatini, having been one of the founding clan, and had several of the clan Chiefs being senior advisors it remains without a royal leader after the death of its last known chief, Mandlakati Mbokane, this according to Matsebula had to be changed.
Professor Philip “Phil” Bonner a leading South African academic who specialized in the history of the Swazi Kingdom, is said to have contacted the family and through him, they knew that out of all the four of late Chief Ntengu II’s sons only one was still alive. Professor Bonner indicated that the descendants were traced but it is not known why the process has not restarted during his majesty King Mswati III, he stated that it is a known fact that many researches and historians like him who spoke with Matsebula indicated that Nkosana Absalom Mbokane is easily contactable as he is prominent entrepreneur and corporate executive in South Africa and he is the heir to the chieftaincy as he is the only living son of Ntengu II after his other brothers Vusimuzi, Fana and Jeremia passed on.
According to Professor Bonner it was confirmed that possibly Nkosana Absalom Mbokane is the heir to the Mbokane Chieftaincy based on historical data and research as well as conversations between Mbokane Clan elders. Matsebula also indicated that is conversation he had with the late His Majesty King Sobhuza, he wanted to restore the Mbokane Chieftaincy because of its significance in the riyal history of Swaziland now eSwatini, and he had instructed Matsebula to conclude the matter, however His Majesty King Sobhuza died in 1982 while the effort continued after Matsebula died in 1993 which is believed might have grounded the process.
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