adminTsholotsho district assistant administrator Mr Kelvin Mayoyo confirmed the events in a telephone interview yesterday and said the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Dr Ignatius Chombo, would officiate at the two occasions.
“Chief Tategulu would be installed on Friday while Chief Mathuphula would be installed on Saturday. We are preparing for the two big events and Minister Chombo would be the guest of honour. We also expect the Governor for Matabeleland North and other senior Government officials to attend,” said Mr Mayoyo.
Mr Moyo succeeds his father who passed away sometime in 2005.
The spokesperson for the Khumalo family, Mr Prince Peter Zwidekalanga Khumalo, who is also a descendent of King Lobengula, said the installation of new Chief Mathuphula had a lot of cultural significance and urged people to attend the event in their large numbers.
He said Prince Mandlakazulu Khumalo (31) was taking over the chieftainship from his father, Neja Mathuphula Khumalo, who died in 2007.
“The installation of Chief Mathuphula has a great cultural and historic significance because he is not an ordinary chief. He is the prince from the direct royal lineage of King Mzilikazi,” said Mr Khumalo.
“Mzilikazi beget Sibhamubhamu who later beget Mathuphula who married a woman from Maseko. Together they beget Mpande who married a Masuku woman. Mpande beget Neja, the last chief who married a woman from Dlodlo and they beget Prince Mandlakazulu Khumalo who would be installed on Saturday.”
Mr Khumalo said the Khumalo elders would conduct the cultural rituals done during installations in consultation with the local elders and chiefs.
He said arrangements have been made for different arts groups to take part in traditional music and dance.
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