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Matabeleland Chiefs always disrespected- sen. Mlotshwa
15 Mar 2016 at 05:34hrs | Views
Matabeleland South MDC-T Senator Sithembile Mlotshwa has claimed that in most of the time Chiefs from Matabeleland are disrespected even by fellow Chiefs from Mashonaland as at some point people from Mashonaland in the company of some Chiefs invaded Njelele area without even communicating to the local Chiefs to conduct rituals.
"I am putting the view that when we see it, to us it is like the other chiefs are being belittled. That is the point that I am making because in Ndebele we say "induna induna ngabathu". So those people make that person a chief," she said.
"In 2014, people around Njelele were so let down by seeing a convoy of cars headed by different chiefs from different areas come to Njelele, disregarding the chiefs in that area coming to do rituals without consulting the chiefs of that area. So, the people around are really disappointed in that Act, it means that our Chiefs are not regarded as Chiefs."
She said when they talk of Chiefs being given their powers and when they belittle each other by virtue of coming from another region and ignoring the Chief of that area, then the question is who is supposed to give that respect?
"We need to feel that our traditions are properly housed, otherwise I think that is why at times people choose to live in disregard of the existence of the structure. Of course they should evolve but not to the extent of wanting to be at par with the Executive of a country that is voted for a certain term because they are born," she said. "At times when you listen to the demands, you feel that the demands are made so that at least they are at par with the Executive of the country that is voted for by individuals. Chiefs are voted for by Chiefs but the individual in the Executive are voted individually by people from different walks of life."
She said one year, they were attending an official opening of this theatre in Bulawayo and she remember that Chief Khayisa refused to accept a seat after the organisers first ran to give the Minister before they gave the Chief.
"He refused to sit, saying that he had to be recognised before the Minister is recognised. We feel that it was a representation that we want from our Chiefs today because if they are still putting a plate to ask for respect from the people, then it will never come,"he said. "But if they stand their ground and say we are representing this structure this way, then the respect will come on its own. We want to see true representation without fear. If our Chiefs are being subservient to the people who are in the Executive, then it is difficult to convince the young people who do not even imagine what the old structure of Chieftaincy was to respect it, because it is very difficult to respect a subservient of other people."
"I am putting the view that when we see it, to us it is like the other chiefs are being belittled. That is the point that I am making because in Ndebele we say "induna induna ngabathu". So those people make that person a chief," she said.
"In 2014, people around Njelele were so let down by seeing a convoy of cars headed by different chiefs from different areas come to Njelele, disregarding the chiefs in that area coming to do rituals without consulting the chiefs of that area. So, the people around are really disappointed in that Act, it means that our Chiefs are not regarded as Chiefs."
"We need to feel that our traditions are properly housed, otherwise I think that is why at times people choose to live in disregard of the existence of the structure. Of course they should evolve but not to the extent of wanting to be at par with the Executive of a country that is voted for a certain term because they are born," she said. "At times when you listen to the demands, you feel that the demands are made so that at least they are at par with the Executive of the country that is voted for by individuals. Chiefs are voted for by Chiefs but the individual in the Executive are voted individually by people from different walks of life."
She said one year, they were attending an official opening of this theatre in Bulawayo and she remember that Chief Khayisa refused to accept a seat after the organisers first ran to give the Minister before they gave the Chief.
"He refused to sit, saying that he had to be recognised before the Minister is recognised. We feel that it was a representation that we want from our Chiefs today because if they are still putting a plate to ask for respect from the people, then it will never come,"he said. "But if they stand their ground and say we are representing this structure this way, then the respect will come on its own. We want to see true representation without fear. If our Chiefs are being subservient to the people who are in the Executive, then it is difficult to convince the young people who do not even imagine what the old structure of Chieftaincy was to respect it, because it is very difficult to respect a subservient of other people."
Source - Byo24News
