News / Local
Mugabe blocked BCC from erecting King Lobengula statue
23 Dec 2013 at 03:49hrs | Views
FORMER Bulawayo city councillors have revealed President Mugabe blocked council from erecting a statue in honour of the last recognised Ndebele King Lobengula in mid 1990s.
Council, which was under Zanu PF control made the proposal when Zanu-PF politburo member Joshua Malinga who was mayor.
"Yes, I am much aware but I don't remember what happened. This happened together with our plans to erect the statue for Lobengula", Malinga is quoted saying.
The revelations come a week after revelations that President Mugabe's government blocked council from honouring the global icon and the late former South African black President Nelson Mandela in 1994.
Council resolved in 1994 to honour Mandela with the Freedom of the City award along former President Thabo Mbeki and Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini.
In 2001, acting mayor David Ndlovu of Zanu PF charged that a hidden political hand was behind the council's failure to honour Mandela.
In 2010, Prince Peter Zwide kaLanga Khumalo, a descendant of Lobengula said there was need to erect the statue of the last Ndebele king as a way of giving an identify to the city built on the ruins of Lobengula's palace.
"One aspect is the correct statue of King Lobengula produced from extensive consultation, which should be erected in Bulawayo because this was where his palace was located and that cannot be changed," Khumalo said.
"It is anathema that at this time, we still have no statue that marks the correct history and identity of this town."
Council, which was under Zanu PF control made the proposal when Zanu-PF politburo member Joshua Malinga who was mayor.
"Yes, I am much aware but I don't remember what happened. This happened together with our plans to erect the statue for Lobengula", Malinga is quoted saying.
The revelations come a week after revelations that President Mugabe's government blocked council from honouring the global icon and the late former South African black President Nelson Mandela in 1994.
In 2001, acting mayor David Ndlovu of Zanu PF charged that a hidden political hand was behind the council's failure to honour Mandela.
In 2010, Prince Peter Zwide kaLanga Khumalo, a descendant of Lobengula said there was need to erect the statue of the last Ndebele king as a way of giving an identify to the city built on the ruins of Lobengula's palace.
"One aspect is the correct statue of King Lobengula produced from extensive consultation, which should be erected in Bulawayo because this was where his palace was located and that cannot be changed," Khumalo said.
"It is anathema that at this time, we still have no statue that marks the correct history and identity of this town."
Source - Southern Eye
