adminVusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
MTHWAKAZI kaMzilikazi Cultural Association has reportedly distanced itself from a group of separatists who reportedly caused a stir at the annual commemorations of King Mzilikazi’s death last Saturday.The scuffle occurred at Mhlahlandlela, 22km south of Bulawayo, when a member of Mthwakazi Republic, a group claiming sovereignty to a traditional state, pushed the master of ceremonies, Mr Enoch Zitha, for trying to stop him from introducing “Chief” Albert Zwelibanzi Gumede, the leader of the group.
In a statement, the association distanced itself from Gumede and his group, accusing them of bulldozing their way into the programme.
“Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association is the only organisation mandated with organising and managing the annual commemoration of King Mzilikazi and has done so successfully for the past 14 years. We would like to apologise to all our donors and the public at all levels for what transpired . . . when a group of opportunists gate-crushed their way into the programme.
“Chieftainship is hereditary and not through election as is the case with Mr Albert Zwelibanzi Gumede whose family was never chief during the reign of both King Mzilikazi and Lobengula,” reads the statement.
The association further accused the alleged separatists of causing confusion during the commemorations such that they ended up misinforming people wishing to attend the event and further revealed that come 2015, it will tighten security and ensure that such elements are barred from attending.
“It was the first time that they attended the commemorations as a group and if they think running a country requires that kind of behaviour then they have a mountain to climb; King Mzilikazi was a disciplined and principled man who took nation building seriously and this is why we continue to celebrate him 146 years on.
“These people brought flyers which misled the public about the exact venue, some, who got them first, went to Mhlahlandlela Government Complex where they were directed to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds. Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association is a non-political entity and those seeking political mileage should look elsewhere. Come the 2015 edition, we shall have put in place all legal means to ensure public safety,” reads the statement.
The association also apologised to Chief Vezi Maduna, who was the guest speaker and Chief Nyangazonke Ndiweni, who gave the vote of thanks.
The scuffle started when one of Gumede’s people grabbed the microphone from the director of ceremonies in an attempt to introduce him at the end of the ceremony, without the blessing of the two local chiefs and Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association, the organisers of the event.
Online Reporter