Unsanctioned visit to Njelele irks Matabeleland chiefs

CHIEFS from Matabeleland South met in Esigodini where they condemned the recent visit to Njelele shrine by people who allegedly performed unsanctioned rituals at the shrine without authority from the traditional leaders.

The chiefs called for full-scale investigations into the issue. Confirming the meeting, which was held at Esikhoveni Training Centre on Monday, Chiefs Malaba and Nyangazonke from Matobo district where the shrine is situated, said the issue was among other issues that the traditional leaders discussed.

"I cannot talk about that issue now as things stand because we are still investigating the allegations surrounding the visit to the shrine. We will soon meet as traditional leaders from Matobo district to set up an investigating team," said Chief Nyangazonke.

"Phone me on Monday I might be having a date for the meeting by then."

Chief Malaba added; "We are still on the issue and I cannot discuss anything as of now because some traditional leaders who are privy to the matter did not attend the Monday meeting."

The visit by the people, believed to be war veterans and other people from outside the district, has irked traditional leaders in the province as they feel those who toured the sacred place did not follow procedure.

During the just-ended Annual Chiefs' Conference, which was hosted by Mashonaland East province, but held in Bulawayo, Chief Malaba  presented a report on what they had discussed and intended to present to President Mugabe and touched on the issue which he stated was very disturbing.

In an interview on Tuesday, Matabeleland South Governor Angeline Masuku, confirmed the meeting although she said she could not give details because she was not part of it.

She said the meeting was for traditional leaders.

"You can find out from Chief Malaba because I was outside when the meeting was taking place. I have not been briefed on the deliberations and what was agreed on," said Governor Masuku.

However, she concurred with the traditional leaders that there was a violation of cultural values.

"I cannot be involved in this issue because it is being handled by chiefs. What we will do is to wait for a report and we will follow what they would have agreed on.

"What I can say is that isizwe yisizwe ngamasiko aso njalo isizwe lesizwe silamasiko aso okuyikuthi lanxa sisincane okunganani siyahlonitshwa," said Governor Masuku.

Chief Gwebu of Umzingwane said they were not happy about the issue and wanted to investigate what happened.

He declined to give details about the meeting, saying they wanted to investigate first.

"We are not yet willing to publicise this but the issue is that we were not happy about what those people did," said Chief Gwebu.

He said those who visited the shrine did not follow procedure and neither did they consult the local chief, Chief Masuku.

"The people who went there never sought permission because they did not ask from Chief Masuku.

"We had a meeting to investigate how it happened and we cannot give any details now. Chief Masuku said he only saw people already going there without prior notice.

"We are starting from the bottom of the ladder and we want to go step by step until we establish how it happened. All the chiefs from the province except three were present," said Chief Gwebu.

He said it was resolved that another meeting would be convened to continue discussing the issue.

Chief Masuku said he did not attend the Monday meeting.

The suspected war veterans and the people who visited the Njelele shrine have been accused of dumping some objects at the shrine and bathing naked in front of women.