The Funeral of Cecil John Rhodes at Matopos

Three weeks after the interment, Colonel Frank Rhodes, accompanied by the Chief Native Commissioner and the Native Commissioner of the District, met the principal Matabele Chiefs at the grave. Colonel Rhodes informed them that his brother had at time thought of being buried at Zimbabwe, but that he had since learned to love Matabeleland and its inhabitants so much that he had changed his mind and given instructions that he was to be laid to rest in the Matopos.

He went on to say that as a proof of trust between the white men and the Matabele he was going to leave his brother’s grave in their hands. He charged them to hand this sacred trust down to their sons from generation to generation, and he knew that if they did this, his brother would be pleased. The leaders amongst the chiefs then advanced, and spoke eloquently of their love for their Great White Chief and of the honor paid to them in being asked to keep watch over his remains. They were glad to know that his spirit was with them and their children’s children would keep their sacred trust.

That undertaking has been well fulfilled. African guards have zealously guarded the grave ever since. A Matabele named “Indaba” was the first guard appointed and the following story indicates his zeal. On being informed that Mr. John Tweed had made the bronzes of the Allan Wilson Memorial, he expressed the wish that a bronze should be made of him similar to those other memorials and placed on one of the larger boulders surrounding the grave so that he could be ever looking down on his master.

In 1904 the Allan Wilson Memorial was set up and two years afterwards Mr. John Tweed, who was responsible for the design and made the life size figures in bronze of the ill-fated party, visited the Matopos. He was very much impressed when told of the incident. Indaba remained guard for many years after wards and subsequently one of his sons took over.