adminProsper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
THE flamboyant Xhosa King from South Africa, Zwelonke Sigcawu, arrived in Bulawayo yesterday for a five-day visit during which he will meet the Xhosa speaking people and interact with traditional leaders.
King Zwelonke and his 12-member delegation were received at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport by scores of Xhosa-speaking people and his Bulawayo relative, Prince Macleod Tshawe.
Xhosa Royal chief executive officer and spokesperson Prince Zolani Mkiva said:
“We are here as part of his majesty’s annual visit which we initiated since our first visit in 2011. We will be here for five days during which we will interact with different people and exchange views.
“We will interact with officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and meet Prince Tshawe, who is the King’s relative here in Zimbabwe. We will also meet our family friend Dr Obert Mpofu.”
Prince Mkiva said during their stay in the country the delegation would visit Xhosa communities outside Bulawayo and engage traditional leaders on different cultural issues.
He said the King would honour the Xhosa Chief, Dr Ndondo of Mbembesi, and people who have contributed to preservation and promotion of good cultural relations between people from the two neighbouring countries.
“We are here to reconnect with our brothers who separated with us 100 years ago. In as much as they are Xhosa, they are blood relatives with people they live with here and they are part of the broader Zimbabwean family,” said Prince Mkiva.
“We will also interact with the people who live with them. We consider this to be a heritage celebration. Our culture and language are observed here and we are one as Africans.”
He said it was important for Africans to cherish cultural relations, to unite and celebrate their diversity.
“We are also here to learn and take something back home. One day we would love to have a school here that will teach Xhosa language,” said Prince Mkiva.
At the airport the King and his delegation met Zanu-PF Politburo member and former Bulawayo Mayor Cde Joshua Malinga who was also at the facility on a different mission.
Online Reporter