Chief Charumbira blasts Njelele 'renegades'

Chief Fortune Charumbira, president of the Chiefs Council has accused the group of war veterans who attempted to visit the Njelele Shrine in Matabeleland of corrupting the country's cultural values and misleading the nation.
In an interview on the sidelines of Chief Ngungumbane's wedding in Mberengwa on Sunday, Chief Charumbira said he was shocked that the group had the guts to force its way into Matopos National Park without the approval of local chiefs.
"That is corruption of our cultural values. Those people ambushed that place and we do not condone that," said Chief Charumbira.
The large grouping, totalling 568 people, caused a stir on Thursday when it made a surprise visit to the park and conducted rituals without the knowledge and approval of the traditional leadership from Matabeleland South Province.
Asked to comment on the involvement of chiefs in the group, Chief Charumbira said the group's claims were false and had the effect of tarnishing the image of traditional leaders.
Said the chief: "There could be chiefs among them but the stated figure is not true. Some of those people are not chiefs at all. Last time the same people duped us into believing that many chiefs were supporting their activities and we later discovered that they were lying."
Chief Charumbira could not be drawn into explaining what measures the chiefs would take to resolve the issue.
However, his deputy Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi on Friday said the issue would be discussed in their next meeting.
The group leaders said they were in the company of 25 chiefs.
They also said their visit had the blessing of senior Government officials and said Ministers Kembo Mohadi of Home Affairs and Environment and Natural Resources Management Francis Nhema were aware of their visit and that Minister Nhema gave them game meat for consumption during their cleansing ceremony.
Minister Mohadi has distanced himself from the group and accused it of trying to bring him into their "stupid" activities.
Chief Charumbira is on record saying the issue, if not handled properly, has the potential of fuelling tribal hatred and destroying the unity in the country.
The group of war veterans made headlines early this year when it visited Njelele shrine twice without approval and reportedly conducted unsanctioned rituals.
War veterans, chiefs and political parties have roundly condemned the unsanctioned visits.
The custodian of Njelele Shrine Mr Solifa Ncube (81) popularly known as Khulu Thobela, has described the group's actions as uncultural and provocative.
The shrine keeper said the unsanctioned visits could lead to famine, disease and increased frequency of natural disasters to the province and the entire region.
Khulu Thobela 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.
The shrine would be closed for the rest of the time for cleansing.
Traditionalists from Matabeleland South have already resolved to stop people from going to the shrine on 14 July following defilement of the place by the group.
Khulu Thobela has said the defilement of the shrine has deprived hundreds of people who travel from all over the world to receive blessings from the rock as they could not get to the rock following the decision by traditionalists to bar people from visiting the shrine.
Following the second visit to the shrine, chiefs from the province resolved to conduct their own cleansing ceremony in order to appease ancestors and avert disasters.