The Second Matabele War , also known as the Matabeleland Rebellion or part of what is now known in Zimbabwe as the First `` Chimurenga '' , was fought Hostile_encounter between 1896 and 1897 in the area then known as Rhodesia , now Zimbabwe .

It pitted Hostile_encounter the British South Africa Company against the Matabele people , which led to Causation conflict with the Shona people in the rest of Rhodesia .

In March 1896 , the Matabele revolted Change_of_leadership against the authority of the British South Africa Company .

The `` Mlimo '' ( or `` M'limo '' , or `` Umlimo '' ) the Matabele spiritual leader , is credited with fomenting Causation much of the anger that led to Causation this confrontation .

He convinced Convincing the Matabele and the Shona that the settlers ( almost 4,000 strong by then ) were responsible for the drought , locust plagues and the cattle disease rinderpest ravaging Destroying the country at the time .

The British immediately sent Sending troops to suppress the Matabele and the Shona , but it cost Cost the lives of many on both sides .

The Shangani Patrol ( or Wilson 's Patrol ) was a 34-soldier unit of the British South Africa Company that in 1893 was ambushed Attack and annihilated Killing by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors in Rhodesia ( now Zimbabwe ) , during the First Matabele War .

The Shangani Patrol ( or Wilson 's Patrol ) was a 34-soldier unit of the British South Africa Company that in 1893 was ambushed Attack and annihilated Killing by more than 3,000 Matabele warriors in Rhodesia ( now Zimbabwe ) , during the First Matabele War .

Scouting ahead of Major Patrick Forbes 's column attempting the capture of the Matabele King Lobengula ( following Self_motion his flight from his capital Bulawayo a month before ) , it crossed Motion_directional the Shangani late on 3 December 1893 .

It moved Motion on Lobengula the next morning , but was ambushed Killing by a host of Matabele riflemen and warriors near the king 's wagon .

Controversy surrounds the breakout before the last stand—which various writers have posited might have actually been desertion—and a box of gold sovereigns , which a Matabele `` inDuna '' ( leader ) later claimed Statement had been given Giving to two unidentified men from Forbes 's rear guard on 2 December , along with a message that Lobengula admitted defeat and wanted the column to stop Process_end pursuing him .