Manyangwa shrine custodian buried

SCORES of people from far and wide on Saturday converged at Manyangwa homestead to bid farewell to the custodian of Manyangwa Rain Mountain Shrine and Kalanga culture, Mr Button Thobela Dube, who died last week Monday after a long illness.

He was 66.

The mourners included Chief Manguba who is a relative of the deceased, Chief Mphini from the area and Chief-elect Hikwa, headmen, village heads and councillors.

Speaker after speaker described the late Mr Dube as a high priest and miracle performer who helped many sick people, both physically and spiritually.

Chief Mphini said the Manyagwa shrine was an important shrine only second to Njelele in terms of size.

He said before chiefs were installed, they first went to the shrine to receive blessings.

“This is a big loss as this area brings together people from Matabeleland and Botswana because izangoma zonke zikhothama khonapha. He was the leader who led the rain-making ceremony. Culturally, there is no person with an ancestral calling who undergoes initiation without coming to this place. One would not be installed chief without coming here and I came here in 2006 ukuzobikwa and even my late father came here and his name, Langa, came from this shrine. As chiefs, we value and respect this place so much,” he said.

Chief-elect Hikwa said the late Mr Dube was a leader in traditional matters and his influence extended nationally.

She said the traditional leadership setup is incomplete without the Manyagwa Rain Mountain Shrine.

“The late was our leader in traditional matters and helped many people who had various infirmities like being visually impaired or physically challenged, while those who could not conceive were also helped by him. He was a custodian of our culture. We learned a lot from him and we must continue observing his teachings for our good,” she said.

Chief Manguba who is an uncle to the late Mr Dube said the Manyangwa shrine is a spiritual home for all people and losing its custodian was a big loss.

He bemoaned the fact that before the late Mr Dube’s passing, some close relatives were fighting him over the work he was anointed to do.

Mr Ellias Sibanda from Dombodema Village who represented the Malitikwe area in rain-making ceremonies at the Manyangwa shrine said the late Mr Dube charted the way for many who have ancestral callings.

“Some of the people who come here are sick due to ancestral callings and the late is the one who would clear things abesekwembesa ilembu. Once that was done, you would be sent to go for the initiation but before the initiation is complete, they would come back ukuzokwethulwa ilembu. So, his role was crucial in that matter, without him our culture is incomplete,” he said.

Thobela Siphiwe Siziba who came from Gwanda said after being helped by the late Mr Dube in 2012, she had become part of the family .

Many who have found a home and help at the shrine left the place with concerns as to what the future holds. — @themkhust