In an official statement issued by the Mthwakazi Democratic Alliance through their President Mr Hloniphani Ncube the government of Zimbabwe has been told to stay away from all Mthwakazi Historic and traditional sites. This comes after many Matabeleland stakeholders have criticized the government of Zimbabwe for trying to mingle in the traditional processes of Mthwakazi. Some arguing that there seems to be a deliberate plot to go around spiritually destroying the nation’s most important historic shrines and places. Almost a decade back when Mugabe was still President the Njelele shrine one of Matabeleland’s most important spiritual shrines was bombed. Recently there has been a very aggressive attempt to trace King Lobengula’s grave. The recent obsession about Matabeleland’s important sites leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
Full Statement below
Mthwakazi nation belongs to all the people of Mthwakazi, it is not a piece of land for the Khumalo people or the Royal family. It is also a historical fact, that ZANU PF which inherited systematic tribalism from the White settlers, whom they assisted in dismantling the peaceful Mthwakazi kingdom hated the people of Matabeleland or Mthwakazi from the beginning of their political project.
This is why when they were granted political power in 1980 by the Smith regime not the people of Mthwakazi, they began the program of eliminating Mthwakazi people through a genocide called Gukurahundi genocide. The hatred of the people of Matabeleland by ZANU PF is in its DNA. That is why we witness ZANU PF implementation the 1979 genocide up to today.
Part of the reason why ZANU PF has been doing as it pleases in Matabeleland is the selfishness of our leaders inclusive of our chiefs as well as some members of Mthwakazi Royal family. This is why they have reduced themselves as ZANU PF activists, unfortunately their partisan activism touches the essence of Mthwakazi existence.
It is embarrassing to say the least to witness the man who was at the center of Mthwakazi genocide stepping into to places where our real heroes are resting disturbing their peace. Pupu is a heroes shrine for the people of Mthwakazi. It is a treasure for the people of Mthwakazi which should be protected especially from the enemies of the people of Mthwakazi and Mnangagwa top the least of the enemies of Mthwakazi.
It is public knowledge that, Mnangagwa has not just only committed genocide in Matabeleland, but he also refused to acknowledge or allow the people of Matabeleland to install their king. The chiefs of Matabeleland were appointed by the Kings of Mthwakazi, that is Lobengula and Mzilikazi to serve the people of Matabeleland. They are not a product of ZANU PF, but today they disregard the people of Mthwakazi and invite Mnangagwa working with some elements of the Khumalo Royal household, a man who referred to Mthwakazi people as dissidents to step in a place where our heroes are resting disturbing their peace.
The same people have also decided to take blood money from Mnangagwa and gave Mnangagwa a misplaced self-created history that he led to the discovery of Lobengula’s grave. This is not only embarrassing but degrading to Mnangagwa for seeking to have unearthed something that we were aware of as Mthwakazi people.
We have many historical sites in Mthwakazi which have been neglected by ZANU PF and some have been vandalized as a way of demonstrating their hatred against Matabeleland people. The same Mnangagwa that the Khumalo people are busy with is the same man who has been sending members of the Central Intelligence Organization to destroy graves of unknown soldiers at Bhalagwe.
He is the same man who is also desperately using the weak chiefs of Mthwakazi and some members of the Royal family to bury Gukurahundi genocide through carrying out an undercover reconciliation program. As Mthwakazi Democratic Alliance we disassociate ourselves with greedy members of the Khumalo Royal family and the selfish chiefs. We urge Mnangagwa to stay out of the sacred areas of Mthwakazi as failure to do so will backfire.
Issued by Hloniphani Ncube
MDA President.