News / National
Chief summons apostolic sects over 'illegal' burial
16 May 2016 at 06:37hrs | Views
CHIEF Nhlamba of Matabeleland South has summoned all apostolic sects operating in his jurisdiction to a meeting on May 25 after one of them was accused of conducting an "illegal" burial in his area.
The decision follows an incident in which more than 100 Johane Masowe Yevadzidzi members chased away relatives of one of their members, John Rendo Ndlovu, from his burial at Ntepe village in Gwanda.
It is alleged that the apostolic sect members kicked out family members from a room where the body lay in state and refused to follow burial traditions and practices followed in the area. They later buried Ndlovu without the family's blessings.
The deceased's son, Proud Ndlovu, said the family had to call the chief to intervene after the sect barred them from participating in their father's burial two weeks ago. He said at the time of his death, his father had just joined the sect.
"Our request was that during burial, his head be put on the east side as per our culture. They refused and chased us away from the grave until the chief was called to intervene," Proud said. He said by the time the chief arrived, the sect members had already lowered the body.
"Unfortunately it's taboo and illegal to dig up a grave. We don't have enough funds to pay for the legal procedure, otherwise we would have wanted to exhume and rebury my father the traditional way," Proud said. Ndlovu's granddaughter, Abigail Ndlovu, said a number of churches were causing commotion and should be made to vacate the area with immediate effect.
"They're bringing in new rules some of which are against our culture. They should be banned in our communities if they don't respect our wishes," she said.
Chief Nhlamba said he had summoned all apostolic sects in his area to tell them to stop conducting "illegal" burials. He said those who do not comply with his order would be made to vacate the area.
The decision follows an incident in which more than 100 Johane Masowe Yevadzidzi members chased away relatives of one of their members, John Rendo Ndlovu, from his burial at Ntepe village in Gwanda.
It is alleged that the apostolic sect members kicked out family members from a room where the body lay in state and refused to follow burial traditions and practices followed in the area. They later buried Ndlovu without the family's blessings.
The deceased's son, Proud Ndlovu, said the family had to call the chief to intervene after the sect barred them from participating in their father's burial two weeks ago. He said at the time of his death, his father had just joined the sect.
"Unfortunately it's taboo and illegal to dig up a grave. We don't have enough funds to pay for the legal procedure, otherwise we would have wanted to exhume and rebury my father the traditional way," Proud said. Ndlovu's granddaughter, Abigail Ndlovu, said a number of churches were causing commotion and should be made to vacate the area with immediate effect.
"They're bringing in new rules some of which are against our culture. They should be banned in our communities if they don't respect our wishes," she said.
Chief Nhlamba said he had summoned all apostolic sects in his area to tell them to stop conducting "illegal" burials. He said those who do not comply with his order would be made to vacate the area.
Source - chronicle
