Chronicle Editor
Mkhululi Ncube, Chronicle Reporter
TRADITIONAL leaders in Matobo District, which is home to the sacred rain-making Njelele Shrine, have appealed to President Mnangagwa to help restore order and dignity to the place amid reports of desecration.
The Njelele Shrine is a cave that is of significant spiritual importance in Zimbabwe, and pilgrims visit it annually for ritual purposes prior to the beginning of the rainy season.
The shrine is inside a cave that is located in the Matobo Hills, which is a World Heritage site.
Njelele Shrine is believed to be a holy place where Africans used to communicate with God before the place was desecrated by colonialists.
Some traditionalists still believe in its supernatural powers and visit the shrine to consult hence anything that happens near the site like the recent splitting of the rock, is believed to be of cultural significance.
The significance of the sacred shrine in the lives of Zimbabweans is also highlighted by the late Vice President, Dr Joshua Nkomo in his book The Story of My Life (1984), in which he recounted his visit to Matopos in the 1970s.
In the book, Dr Nkomo recounts having been led onto the hill where a voice came from the rocks and promised that the land would be restored to its indigenous owners after 30 years.
The revered shrine has been desecrated by people who have gone there without following the procedures and the local traditions.
Speaking during the Roman Catholic’s St Joseph Mission centenary celebrations on Sunday in Kezi, Matobo District, Chief Bidi said politics should not be allowed to take centre stage in terms of the cultural site.
He said since Matabeleland South is a drought-prone province, Njelele plays a crucial role in appeasing ancestral spirits to help address the challenge through the rain making ceremonies.
“I would like to bring to the attention of the President the devastating effect of water challenges in our area, water is life and without it we are dead. In your speech you touched on the water shortages in Matabeleland South Province,” said Chief Bidi.
“We have Njelele shrine and people look upon us as traditional leaders to protect and guide what happens there.
We request that politics must stay away from the shrine because politicians come and go and we do not want to lose that place with our children likely to lose a place to go to for rain-making ceremony.”
Chief Bidi said a number of genuine people have pulled back due to intimidation they get from those who name drop politicians name.
“For example uyathola abantu bezingenisa eNjelele claiming political power which should not be the case. The end result is that communities that go to Njelele for traditional purposes are now torn apart,” he said.
Chief Nyangazonke, who is also from Matobo District, urged citizens to respect the shrine
“Such places have people who oversee them and who know how they are approached.
They should never be overpowered by anyone, but instead those who may want to visit the shrine for whatever purpose must follow the rules,” he said.
“As chiefs whose jurisdiction covers the shrine, we will always speak with one voice and we are saying ‘no’ to disturbances at Njelele. That place is very old and even the late former vice President Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo respected Njelele.”
Chief Nyangazonke said they are in the process of organising a meeting of all chiefs under Matobo district over the Njelele issue.
He hailed the President’s historic visit to the St Joseph centenary celebrations, saying it shows his commitment to leaving no one and no place behind in the development trajectory.
Chief Nyangazonke said it is crucial for Government ministers to support the President’s position on the need to empower Zimbabweans living in South Africa under the Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) upon returning home in June when the facility expires.
Government has pledged to help the citizens so that they can get home with their possessions and start-up here.
The special permit was granted to nearly 170 000 Zimbabweans working, studying, and living in South Africa but expires at the end of June this year. A fair number have or are in the process of obtaining other work permits so they can stay, but a lot will have to leave.
“Our district and province at large has a huge population in South Africa, and as we prepare to welcome them, it is important that plans are made so that they benefit from the vast natural resources in the province,” said Chief Nyangazonke.
“One thing that Government should consider doing is to open the exclusive prospecting orders so that our children get claims and mine for their empowerment. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage must be ready to roll out the national identity blitz for returning residents while the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development must avail loans to them.” -@themkhust
Online Reporter