Mpezeni was courted by the Portuguese and the BSAC sent agents to obtain a treaty — Alfred Sharpe in 1889, and Joseph Maloney in 1895, who were both unsuccessful.
The Portuguese and the BSAC attempted to win Mpezeni over with offers, but their efforts were thwarted by agents Alfred Sharpe in 1889, and Joseph Maloney in 1895, who failed to secure a treaty.