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Speaking during the installation of 21-year-old Mr Nhlonipho Moyo as Chief Tategulu in Tsholotsho District, Minister Chombo said respect for history and cultural values was important in building peaceful communities in the country.
Born on 22 July 1990, Mr Moyo succeeds his father, Marko Moyo, who died on 1 June 2005.
He did his primary education at Mahole Primary School near his homestead about 40 km west of Tsholotsho Centre and completed his Ordinary Level at Northlea High School in Bulawayo in 2008.
“People from the same area who share cultural values should understand each other instead of dragging each other to the High Court over succession battles. I respect the Tategulu clan for not engaging in such battles,” said Minister Chombo.
He said in the African culture, a chief was a chief because of his subjects and as such he should be respected and assisted regardless of age.
“Some might ask why we are installing a young man born in 1990. A chief has no age. Our duty is to respect him because he will not lead alone that is why there are advisors. When we say Chief Tategulu we mean a symbol of power,” he said.
Minister Chombo said people should move away from the culture of blaming leaders when things were bad, but should also take responsibility.
“Let us not say when there are problems we blame the chief because we will all have failed as a community. This is why we have headmen and village heads to assist chiefs and prevent conflicts,” he said.
Minister Chombo drew laughter from hundreds of people who had gathered when he said Professor Jonathan Moyo, the Member of the House of Assembly for Tsholotsho North and Bulawayo Governor Cain Mathema should as nephews of the Moyos thatch the chief’s hut which was not thatched as that was their duty culturally. The two were present at the ceremony.
Minister Chombo then pledged an undisclosed amount of money to the Tategulu chieftainship to assist the chief find his feet.
Minister Chombo appraised the youthful chief of his duties as a chief, saying he should ensure a safe environment for his subjects by eliminating crime.
“The duty of a chief is to ensure people live peacefully and to make sure criminals are removed from the community and sent to jail. The Government is worried about cases of child abuse and it is the duty of chiefs to send perpetrators to jail,” he said.
“All of us from different churches and cultural groups should work to develop our communities. Black churches are the only ones that can understand our challenges unlike white men’s churches.”
Chief Tategulu is a member of the Guta RaMwari Church, whose members attended the ceremony.
The Minister commended the Tategulu clan for “upholding cultural values and not fighting over the throne”.
“I want to thank Headman Phondo for acting until today when he is handing power to Nhlonipho. The history of Chief Tategulu dates back to King Mzilikazi and in most cases when people are appointed to act they refuse to relinquish power to the substantive chiefs but this did not happen with you.
“You upheld culture and preserved your history, which shows unity and love in the Tategulu area. It should remain like this every time,” said Minister Chombo.
He urged villagers to approach the Grain Marketing Board and get grain under the Government Expanded Grain Loan Scheme where a family is getting a bag of maize per month to be paid back when they harvest in the next rainy season.
The minister commended the people of Tsholotsho, saying they made wise contributions during the Copac outreach programme.
Minister Chombo reminded the gathering that the country would soon hold harmonised elections and that President Mugabe was the Zanu-PF candidate.
He said the people of Tsholotsho North had one of the best MPs in the country in the name of Prof Moyo.
“Let this spirit continue forever, people are ready for elections to show Tsvangirai who was sent by whites to take away our land that they will lose,” he said.
The ceremony started with a poem “Sekunjalo isizelwe inkosi, akade zisemahlangeni namhlanje ziyangena esibayeni” as officials from the Ministry of Local Government led the new chief out of the hut to the tent to hand him for the installation. At that time old men and women danced, ululated and whistled.
It was ululation and whistling when Minister Chombo assisted the youthful chief put on his red and purple chief’s gown.
Governor Mathema put bracelets on the chief’s neck while the badge of identification was put on him by Matabeleland North Governor Thokozile Mathuthu with Prof Moyo putting on him the helmet of power.
Chief Mtshana handed the youthful chief the national flag, a sign that he was now a national leader and a walking stick to show that he was now the father of the community.
The chief’s messenger was also presented with new regalia before headmen and village heads knelt down in front of the new chief to show acceptance and allegiance.
The community including Government officials gave the new chief presents ranging from cash to small livestock and utensils.
Governor Mathuthu urged the Tategulu community to work with their new chief.
She reminded the new chief of the Traditional Leadership Act, saying it was in the chief’s power to see that land was distributed equitably to deserving Zimbabweans.
“We could have done this long back but there were little challenges that could have created problems. Marko left us a chief, let us help him in his job and respect him. We want to thank Headman Phondo who was acting all this time,” said Governor Mathuthu.
Speaking on behalf of chiefs from Tsholotsho, Chief Gampu said the other five chiefs were ready to assist Chief Tategulu.
He urged the new chief to respect his subjects.
Mr Zenzo Moyo, Nhlonipho’s grandfather, said Chief Tategulu’s reign started in Nyamandlovu where the community was based during the time of King Mzilikazi.
“Tategulu chieftainship was started by Sigabada who came when Mzilikazi was king and asked for a place in Nyamandlovu and his people became a force in the king’s army and were nicknamed Inyoka kaTategulu. Tategulu had four wives and one of the wives, MaMlalazi, bore a son Guduza who only had girl children and his brother Gibide became chief when he died,” said Mr Moyo.
He said Chief Gibide’s brother Mahole was the first to settle in Mahole area in Tsholotsho from Nyamandlovu in 1936, hence the name of the area and local school.
After Chief Mahole’s death, Tategulu became chief and later handed power to Sihweba, Chief Guduza’s son who was later removed by whites.
The Tategulu family sat and chose Mbunjwa who was working at the DA’s office in Tsholotsho as chief and because of his commitments, appointed Mswigana to act on his behalf. Chief Mswigana gave back the chieftainship to the Sihweba house and when he was old, resulting in the appointment of Marko Moyo, Nhlonipho’s father.
“It was agreed that Nhlonipho as the first born should succeed his father. There was never any quarrel and all those who acted knew they were holding for Guduza’ house. The name Nhlonipho is over today, he is now Chief Tategulu,” said Mr Moyo.
Minister Chombo and Governor Mathuthu were each given a goat by the Tategulu family.
Deputy president of the chiefs’ council, Chief Mtshana Khumalo, Chief Siphoso, Chief Magama, Chief Mahlathini, Chief Gampu, Chief Mandlakazulu Khumalo, Chief Mathuphula-designate, who will be installed today, Chief Malisa from Midlands and the director of Traditional Services in the Ministry of Local Government, Mr Fanuel Mukwaira attended the ceremony.
Others were Nkayi district administrator Ms Nosizi Dube, Matabeleland North provincial administrator Ms Latiso Dlamini and her Bulawayo counterpart Mrs Khonzani Ncube.
Online Reporter