Njelele renegades, 'uncultural and extremely provocative' says Shrine Keeper

The KEEPER of the Njelele shrine, Mr Solifa Ncube (81) popularly known as Khulu Thobela yesterday blasted the group of war veterans which attempted to visit the Shrine to perform rituals saying the group's actions were uncultural and extremely provocative.
The group of about 568 people caused a stir when it bulldozed its way into Matopos National Park with an intention of proceeding to Njelele. They failed to reach the shrine, but still managed to conduct rituals in the national park. The group sought to conduct the rituals at Njelele without the knowledge and approval of the traditional leadership from Matabeleland South Province.
Its leaders claimed that their visit had the blessings of senior Government officials and said Co-Minister of Home Affairs Kembo Mohadi and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Francis Nhema were aware of their visit.
The group also claimed that Minister Nhema gave them game meat for consumption during the cleansing ceremony.
Speaking at the burial of Zapu founder member, Cde Amos Patrick "Jack" Ngwenya on Saturday, the politicians said the group had no right to tamper with the Njelele Shrine without authority as it represented the highest level of indiscipline and disregard of the country's religion and cultural practices.
Matabeleland South Governor Angeline Masuku said she was angered by the actions of the war veterans.
"The behaviour by the group of war veterans is sheer indiscipline. This shows that they don't respect the religion and traditional practices of people in Matobo and the nation at large," said Governor Masuku.
She said the war veterans should stay away from Njelele.
"They fought the war of liberation and that was enough. They should stay away from religious affairs; it's not their place," said Governor Musuku.
She said the group of war veterans should be dealt with accordingly.
Speaking during the same occasion, Co-minister of National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, Moses Mzila-Ndlovu said the group of war veterans was taking advantage of the region's divisions.
"There will never be peace when such people are disrespecting our culture and traditional practices," said Minister Mzila.
He said the war veterans had no respect for the national shrine.
"These people don't have respect.  They are defying our heritage. Only our enemies are capable of doing such a thing. This is an insult to the people of Matabeleland.  We are angered by this," said Minister Mzila.
He said the region should take proper steps against the behaviour by the group of war veterans.
Zapu leader, Dr Dumiso Dabengwa said there was a need for action against the group.
"This is not something to keep quiet about.  If there were any Zipra members in that group, we will deal with them effectively," said Dr Dabengwa.
The group, which was made up of former freedom fighters, 25 chiefs and five spirit mediums, arrived in Bulawayo on Wednes-day morning from Zambia and proceeded to the Matopos National Park where they conducted their cleansing ceremony.
They brought some stones and soil from former Zipra camps in Zambia. They said the stones, which they left in the park, represent-ed the remains of the fallen freedom fighters.
Khulu Thobela said there would be famine, disease and increased frequency of natural disasters following repeated unsanctioned rituals in Matabeleland South, by a group of people claiming to be war veterans.
Njelele Shrine is a place where people of all cultures go to ask for blessings from their ancestral spirits. "We are likely to have a prolonged period without rain. There shall be hunger and inexplicable diseases because the unauthorised rituals being performed in the province are angering the ancestors," said Khulu Thobela.
He said the group could have a hidden motive for their actions.
"They could be provoking people in the region. Their actions are difficult to understand. They are free like everyone else to carry out rituals at the rock, but they should have asked for permission so that the rituals are done properly, without defiling the shrine. If they had asked permission from traditional leaders, they would have been guided accordingly," he said.
Khulu Thobela said the group's continued "criminal" activities in the province were extremely disrespectful. "It is very wrong to conduct rituals at a place without the blessing of chiefs in the area.
I heard that after defiling Njelele, the same group has gone on to carry out activities at Matopos National Park. This is very disrespectful and if the group is not reigned in, there shall be chaos in the land," said Khulu Thobela.
He said people were allowed to go to the Njelele rock for traditional rituals, under the guidance of traditionalists or the custodian of the shrine, between March and 29 September, adding that the shrine would be closed the rest of the time for cleansing.
"This year, traditional leaders decided to stop people from going to the rock on 14 July following defilement of the place by the group. Hundreds of people who travel from all over the world to get blessings from the rock have been stranded as they come here and we have to tell them they cannot proceed to the rock," he said.
When a Chronicle news crew visited Khulu Thobela's homestead yesterday, a South African woman had come to thank her ancestors for giving her a baby boy that she had asked for last year at the rock.
She was however, disappointed because the necessary rites could not be carried out as she was not allowed to go to the rock.