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.
Mpezeni was courted by European powers, specifically the Portuguese and the BSAC, which sent emissaries to persuade him to sign a treaty — Alfred Sharpe in 1889, and Joseph Maloney in 1895, but their overtures were rebuffed.