Bhunu (reigned as Ngwane V; also known as Mahlokohla or Hhili; 11 May 1876 – 10 December 1899) was the King of Swaziland from 1895 until his death on 10 December 1899. He was a son of King Mbandzeni with Queen Labotsibeni Mdluli. He ascended to the throne after a short regency of Queen Mother Labotsibeni after his father died. His royal capital was at Zombodze while the Queen Mother's residence was at Lobamba.
Bhunu became the king after the Swaziland Convention of 1894, a convention which classified Swaziland as a protected state of the South African Republic under President Paul Kruger.
During this time Swaziland had a partial Dutch administration in parallel to Bhunu's administration. An annual payment was made to Bhunu and Labotsibeni by the Kruger government from taxes collected and from contributions from concessionaires and taxes.
In 1899, the Anglo-Boer war began, and brought to an end the Dutch or Boer partial administration of Swaziland and hence gave way to independence. However Mahlokohla died on 10 December of that year while dancing incwala. "Killing off", a practice which existed in earlier precolonial times when the king had total judicial power was unacceptable to the Transvaal authorities. As a result, Ngwane was prosecuted. He first fled to Zululand which was under British Natal administration at the time. His return occurred after guarantees for his safety, after which he was tried in court in Bremersdorp (present day Manzini). Ngwane brought with him to court a large Swazi army, and in the trial was only charged with a minor offence of public disturbance. For this he was to pay a fine. For the rest of his rule, Ngwane oversaw a largely stable country and he maintained the old regimental system for warriors at the royal residences.
In 1899 war broke out between the British and the Boer Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State. As a result, all white residents of Swaziland or burghers were advised to leave Swaziland in anticipation for the skirmishes about to take place. President Paul Kruger notified Ngwane of the unfolding events and their withdrawal and advised him to continue to "rule his country" in peace. Swaziland, in a precarious position announced its neutrality in the conflict. However this was not to be as the Anglo-Boer war took place in Swaziland territory later on. As the result of the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer war, Swaziland regained its independence.
Later life
Bhunu died in December 1899 while dancing the sacred incwala ceremony at the age of 23. His death was speculated to be of poisoning and was not announced to the nation until the ceremony was over. The Swazi council then chose his wife Lomawa Ndwandwe and their four-month-old son Sobhuza II to be Queen Mother and King. Sobhuza would remain as king-in-waiting until 1921 after a long regency of his grandmother Labotsibeni and his uncle Prince Malunge. Bhunu left Swaziland in an uncertain state but had led it as a stable country from a protectorate to short-lived independence (1899–1903). His son Sobhuza would rule Swaziland for 82 years and become the longest verifiable reigning monarch in history.