HUNDREDS of people welcome King Zwelonke

Scores of Xhosa speaking villagers, some clad in their traditional regalia and wielding clubs and tree branches, broke into song and dance to welcome the King of the Xhosa Kingdom, Mr Zwelonke Sigcawu, who is visiting the country for the first time.

There was a huge gathering at Mr Adam Mdlangathi's homestead at Sojini village in Mbembesi shouted Zwelonke! Zwelonke! Zwelonke! in honour of the King. Others recited praise poems while some whistled as women ululated.

King Zwelonke, who is based in South Africa, arrived at the place at around 2.30pm and was accompanied by nine chiefs and other Xhosa descendants from that country.

The king's visit coincided with the circumcision ritual for some of the Xhosa members.

The king was officially welcomed by the headman of the area, Mr Thembile Mpengesi.

Greeting the huge gathering King Zwelonke said he came to the country to find out how the Xhosa people in Zimbabwe conducted their rituals.

He commended the Xhosa community in the country for preserving their culture and identity.

"I am happy to meet the descendents of the Xhosa people in Zimbabwe. From what I have observed so far there are not many differences in how we do our things," said King Zwelonke.

"I am very glad to be with you today because we have a lot of connections with our ancestors. We are committed to helping our members in South Africa to solve their problems."

Mr Mdlangathi donated a beast to the king as a symbol of honour for his visit.

In an interview during the event the chief executive officer of the Xhosa Royal Community Mr Zolani Mkiva commended the cultural diversity in the country.

He, however, expressed concern that the Xhosa language was not taught at schools and said he would work with the Government to promote the teaching of Xhosa.

Mr Mkiva said the King was the custodian of the Xhosa culture together with his chiefs, headmen and village heads.

He also said Xhosa speaking people enjoyed co-existence with other tribes.

Mr Mkiva castigated secessionist elements between tribes, saying Xhosa people in Zimbabwe were one family with the Ndebele and Shona people.

"We came here to visit the Xhosa people and their relatives who speak Shona and IsiNdebele. We are one with them because there have been a lot of inter-marriages.

"We are not interested in separatist views and divisions. We are not interested in petty issues but we came here to see the commitment of our brothers in working on their land," said Mr Mkiva.

He said the King's delegation met senior Government officials among them Mines and Mining Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu, the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Dr Ignatius Chombo and traditional leaders.

He commended the Government for granting them  permission to visit the country.

Mr Mkiva said the celebrations would continue today and announced that his delegation will be in the country up to Monday.

He also said they would take the opportunity to visit King Mzilikazi's  grave.

Meanwhile, the co-ordinator of the event Mr Ndlazulwana Kenneth Kholisile said yesterday''s event was umguyo, a Xhosa ceremony where boys are initiated into manhood through circumcision.

He said the King's visit was part of  efforts to unite Xhosa people in the country with their brethren in other parts of Africa.

"Negotiations to have this visit started way back. The King came to find out how we are conducting our ritutals," said Mr Kholisile.

He said there were estimated 4 000 Xhosa people in the country.

Most of them are found in parts of Midlands, Fort Rixon in Filabusi and Motapa area in Bubi.

King Zwelonke is the 28th king in the Xhosa dynasty. The Xhosa are part of the Nguni people who were dispersed from South Africa during the political disturbances commonly referred to as Mfecane around 1800.