Clive Thabo Dube
www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
POLITICALLY, Matabeleland has been relegated to the sidelines, economically disempowered and emasculated. Now, the regions’ cultural heritage and hopes for the revival of the Ndebele monarch are under threat with self- proclaimed King Munhumutapa born Timothy Chiminya on course for systematic Matabeleland invasion.
Backed up by the rulling party Zanu- PF, courtesy of a High Court default order, the Munhumutapa ‘Royal House’ is determined to go ahead with local unsanctioned rituals in Matopos.
The move erodes Matabeleland customs and traditions.
As a result, the move by the government and Timothy Chiminya to conduct rituals has not settled well with traditionalists and Chiefs in Matabeleland region as per Southern Eye. But despite the fierce opposition from local traditional leaders, who have rejected the initiative as a cultural threat for people of Matabeleland, Chiminya remains resolute.
“As l’m coming, no one will stop me and l’m not expecting a chief who is under King Munhumutapa to be talking. The ruling party and the president gave me the powers to do the national chores.” Said Chiminya.
He added that,
“Chiefs in Matabeleland must know, l’m coming whether they like it or not because l do not report to them. They are under Munhumutapa.”
He further added that the Nguni (the Ndebele Monarch), should approach him after putting their house in order for further instructions.
“I understand King Lobengula died in Zambia, so go and start in Zambia. Then come to me as lam a King, l know what l can do. The Nguni people must organize themselves and set their house in order because as a national King l know what l can do (to) the Nguni people
“Lobengula is a British King but l know what l can do if the Nguni make up a set up.”
The disunity amongst the Khumalo Clan surrounding the heir to the Ndebele Kinship is a major stumbling block in reviving the Ndebele Kingdom and the preservation of the Ndebele culture without a king remains unguarded.
The kingdom was under King Mzilikazi from 1820 to 1868 and then his son Lobengula between 1868 and 1894 took the reigns.
Meanwhile, the self imposed King Munhumutapa’s determination to push forward with the rituals and the Government’s support for the move raises alarming questions.
What is the connection between Chiminya and the president?
The legal battles between Chiminya against Local Governance and Public Works, and the Ministry of Justice are they genuine or merely a distraction?
What makes the acknowledgement of Timothy Chiminya as the legitimate King for the Lozwi/ Rozvi more curious, is the fact that recently, President Emmerson Mnangangwa has gone on to call himself, Munhumutapa.
According to Chiminya, the first Mutapa State was recognized in Matopo.
Interestingly enough, the Mutapa Kingdom covered the northern parts of modern day Zimbabwe, Mashonaland Central province.
As things stand, the battle between royal families and government rages on, from the Khumalo clan now to the Munhumutapas. However, the proclamation and resuscitation of the Mthwakazi kingdom remains elusive with the selective constitution in play.
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