The Battle of Bembezi (1 November 1893) was an engagement of the First Matabele War, between the British South Africa Company and the Ndebele Kingdom.
On a hillock 300 yards south of this pillar the Salisbury and Victoria Columns (British South Africa Company’s forces) formed laager about midday on the First of November 1893.
During the halt they were heavily attacked by a large force of Matabele (iMbizo, iNgubo, iSiziba and iHlati regiments with Amavene iQobo and iNsukamini regiments in reserve).
The battle was hard and the Matabele charged with the greatest courage three times in the face of machine gun fire but after suffering very many casualties were compelled to withdraw.
This was the decisive battle for Rhodesia and the Columns marched on to Bulawayo which they occupied on the 4th November 1893.
Zimbabwe, dandaro, today in history
