Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
ACTIVISTS working with King Mambo yesterday embarked on a clean-up campaign to promote cleanliness which they say is a key cultural component.
The clean-up campaign which was held in Bulawayo’s Ward 25, Nketa Shopping Centre saw chiefs working with King Mambo joined by residents and other cultural activists from neighbouring suburbs.
Speaking after the event King Mambo’s representative Chief Lucas Nyathi said they were following the Second Republic’s programme of conducting clean up campaigns every month.
“Our coming here is a fulfilment of what the Second Republic proclaimed that we should clean up our environments. As we seek to promote our culture as the subjects of Mambo, cleanliness is one of the key pillars of our culture,” said Chief Nyathi.
Mrs Nomazolo Mlilo who was part of the organisers said they realised that their area was being heavily littered and was being an environmental hazard. She said that reminded them as cultural activists, how important cleanliness is to their culture.
“We realised that as cultural people, our area had a lot of litter as people disposed it anyhow all over the shopping centre. There were broken bottles and all sorts of litter making it a health hazard to children and the entire community. We organised ourselves as cultural activists from various suburbs to conduct this cleanup campaign. Our culture spells it out that we should stay in a clean environment,” said Mrs Mlilo.
Youths from the suburb also joined the clean-up campaign and implored their peers to partake in cultural preservation efforts that were being presented to them.
“I want to encourage fellow youths that, culture and tradition is not for the elderly. They are actually the ones who teach us, as such youths must join such cultural initiatives to ensure they learn more about their culture. This will help us grow the way our forefathers grew. Such programmes take us away from wrong practices and activities like drug and substance abuse,” said 27-year-old Viola Chikwanda.
Ward 25 councillor Mzamo Dube expressed his gratitude towards the group saying cultural education was key in moulding society.
“I am very happy that this cultural group has embarked on cultural preservation. This includes living in a clean environment as well as educating young people to know how the elderly lived in the past. We want to appreciate King Mambo who is the leader of the group and would implore him to continue leading such initiatives,” said Clr Dube.
Born Mike Moyo, King Mambo who is also referred to as Ilitshe Aligiqiki, had a traditional installation ceremony attended by 80 chiefs drawn from across the country in 2020 at his homestead in Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South Province. He is reviving the Mambo dynasty which had been dormant for years through a number of initiatives aimed at preserving culture. — @nyeve14
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