Chronicle EditorPathisa Nyathi , Cultural Heritage
GRADUATES from missionary teacher training institutions were absorbed into primary schools of the same church denominations. Those were the days when some teachers possessed qualifications such as Standard 4. The better teachers had Standard 6 qualifications with no formal teacher training qualifications. It was much later that they went to train and obtained the Primary Teacher’s Certificate Lower (PTL).
Ruth Ngqali Nyathi coming out of Dadaya found herself looking for a teaching vacancy. One denomination that had schools close to her home was the Presbyterian Church, (iHabe) as distinct from the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland which ran Ingwenya Mission in Ntabazinduna. This is the church that was linked with the likes of Reverend Boyani Radasi.
The other church was associated with pioneers such as Robert Sinyoka and his name is enshrined in a primary school. This is the church denomination that ran David Livingstone Memorial School in Ntabazinduna which Ruth attended. There was also Gloag Primary School, Red Bank and Mnondo Primary School.
Indeed, Ruth Ngqali was offered a teaching vacancy at David Livingstone Memorial Primary School (DLM) named after Reverend Dr David Livingstone the missionary explorer associated more with Malawi. Barbara Frazer was at the school and her name is associated with one of the sporting houses at the secondary school of the same name. She remained at the school from 1956 till the end of 1957 when she got her first child.
In the colonial days a woman who went on maternity was deemed to have left employment and when she resumed teaching it was like entering the profession for the first time. Such disadvantaged women were regarded as temporary teachers. I was to join the teaching staff in 1980, having come from Chitsere in Harare Township (now Mbare) when Howard Secondary School was forced to close in 1979.
In October 1957 she got married to Moses Dlamini who grew up at Magumbezi Khumalo’s homestead. Magumbezi was his maternal uncle. He was son of Mathilika after whom a beer garden was named at the Ntabazinduna Township where Mfihlo Nyoni lived. One of the sports houses at DLM Secondary School was named Mfihlo. Ruth would subsequently become a stone that did not gather some moss.
Her second posting was to Gloag Primary School near Turk Mine. Gloag was named after the Scottish man who donated the farm, Half Ration Ranch to the Church together with Vimy Ridge off the Bulawayo-Harare Road where there is the turn off to Imbizo Barracks.
Gloag offered both Agriculture and Building subjects. I was to become head of the secondary school from 1985 till 1993 when I transferred to Nketa High School. My stay at the school provided me with both the knowledge of agriculture and building. A Mr Robertson was school head at the time that Ruth Ngqali was teaching there.
When he died he was replaced by a Mr Molam.
Moses Dlamini taught Building at the school. In 1952 there was heightened evictions following the end of World War II. Ruth Ngqali’s relatives who lived at Elangeni were among the evictees who were to clear space for white settlers returning from World War II. Blacks returning from the war were given bicycles and overcoats when whites got land. It was time for the implementation of the Land Apportionment Act (1930).
Ngqali Ruth taught at Gloag till 1952. The rolling stone was on the move once again. This time she went to join the staff at Loziba Primary School. Loziba, at Inyathi was named after Queen Loziba okaPhahlana who was King Mzilikazi’s senior Queen following the killing of senior Queens Mwaka Nxumalo (Prince Nkulumane’s mother) and Queen Fulatha okaMabindela Tshabalala.
Her daughter Lobhitshi got married to Linganisa Dlodlo who paid a head of 100 cattle for her. Each move to the next marked the birth of a child when she lost her employment. Loziba Primary School was not to be her last school. From there she remained within the same locality. She joined the staff at Inyathi Reserve School. The school was on the site where the London Missionary Society Society (LMS) were given a site to establish a mission station in December 1859. Jeremiah Macelegwane Khabo then was at Turk Mine Primary School.
There were other schools in the vicinity that engaged in concerts with Inyathi Reserve School. The schools were Turk Mine, Dromoland and Gloag. Emhlangeni was the name of the primary school at Inyathi. Its name came from the reeds that abounded in a small stream which was a tributary of Ingwigwizi River. King Mzilikazi’s capital town then was known as Emhlangeni. The area was better watered then with crocodiles found aplenty.
In 1962 following her maternity leave Ruth Ngqali did not return to Gloag where her husband was teaching. Instead she took a vacancy at a school near her home — Inhlambabaloyi. The school where she taught was a regimental name for Inhlambane under the Ndiwenis. Mhlambezi Ndiweni, Chief Khayisa Ndiweni’s grandfather ruled over the regiment/village.
At the village witches were pardoned when they got there on account of the relationship between the Ndiwenis and King Mzilikazi. The place is what may be termed Entukuzweni, a place of shelter where criminals sought refuge and indemnity. Witches were cleansed and restored back to their communities. In contrast to the Hill of Witches (Intaba Yabathakathi) near Sizinda Township in Bulawayo where witches were put to death.
Due to low enrolment figures at Inhlambabaloyi Ruth Ngqali relocated to Elibeni Primary School. Iliba is word for a grave, also known as ingcwaba, idlinza or ithinta.
Here was located a village/regiment known as Iliba under the chieftainship of Galu Mlotshwa. At the village King Mzilikazi had a Queen, okaPhonjwana, a sister of the chief. I remember well when Msongelwayizizwe Khumalo used to sing for me a song composed in reference to people who were jealous of the status of the Queen.
When the King visited the village people would sing:
Hayi okaPhonjwana,
Isobala,
Hayi okaPhonjwana isobala!
The essence of the song was that the King was visiting in full view of all to see. Let those harbouring jealousies, see for themselves. The Queen’s rave is located where the village once was. One year in the company of Non-Pierce from Wales a granddaughter of Reverend Bowen Rees of Inyathi and Marieke Clarke from Oxford, we walked about to identify the location of the village.
Sidumisile Mabena