MDC-T under fire for holding post-demo talks at a Ndebele shrine

SOME sections of the Ndebele people have come out guns blazing accusing  the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Morgan Tsvangirai for allegedly "defiling" a protected Ndebele Shrine in Bulawayo.  

According to a statement issued by a grouping ostensibly speaking on behalf of the Ndebele people, the MDC-T party yesterday held its talks  following  the demonstration held in Bulawayo at Northend open square - a venue which the group claims is sacred as it  where the Ndebele Inxwala ceremony used to be held.

The group took a swipe at Bulawayo Mayor His Worship Martin Moyo saying he should have stopped the party both as a city father and the party official.  Below we publish the unedited statement:

For having allowed his MDC-T party to hold a political rally in a preserved cultural heritage Inxwala Site in Bulawayo, the Mayor of Bulawayo Clr Martin Moyo has shown that he does not have the ability and capacity to uphold Council Resolutions and statutes, does not have the ability and capacity to defend the City's identity, cultural heritage and rights; and therefore he should either issue a public apology or resign immediately.

The Inxwala Site where the MDC-T ended their really on 28 May 2016 is a preserved area of cultural heritage to the Ndebele people and the Bulawayo Council made a resolution to have the placed properly protected as a place of significance to the City and the history of the Ndebele Kingdom.

By letting his party hold a rally in that area on Saturday 28 May 2016 Mayor Martin Moyo as the City head showed gross incompetence and incapacity to protect the rights, identity and heritage of the city.

The Mayor did not instruct the MDC-T not to use that venue even though he clearly and explicitly knew how important that place is and the subsequent Council resolutions and efforts to have that place protected to retain its preserve and importance.

This act of defilement and disrespect of human rights and freedoms, history, culture and heritage of the people of Matabeleland by organizations, institutions and individuals from outside Matabeleland is one of the fundamental reasons why most people of Matabeleland have not only been demanding devolution of power but also agitating for the formation of a regional political party which shall protect the region's interests, heritage and cultural sites, with some calling the total cessation/restoration of Matabeleland from mainland Zimbabwe."