News / Local
Traditional leaders to consult the spirits at Njelele about the rocks that fell off a hill in Matopo
09 Jun 2012 at 04:34hrs | Views
One of the huge balancing rocks that fell off a hill in Matopo National Park early this week has generated a lot of interest with traditionalists saying it should not be removed until some rites have been conducted.
The rock reportedly fell on Sunday night and rolled down the hill for about 100 metres before landing on Circular Drive, one of the roads in the Matopos National Park.
A team of traditional leaders visited the area on Wednesday on a fact-finding mission and reported back to Chief Masuku who is expected to call a meeting with other traditional leaders in the province.
The team was led by Mr David Mhabhinyane Ngwenya, an inyanga from Kezi but operating from Gwabalanda in Bulawayo.
The other members of the team were Mr Carpenter Moyo, also an inyanga, Headman Ngwizi Gumbo from Gwanda District and Headman Moyo, a traditionalist and custodian of Ntabazika Mambo based in Silobela in the Midlands.
The traditional leaders said the falling of the rock, estimated to weigh between two and three tonnes, could be a signal that the ancestors want to convey a message to the people. They said the traditional leaders should therefore consult ancestors at the Njelele Shrine in Matobo District.
Chief Masuku, in whose jurisdiction Matopo National Park falls, yesterday convened a meeting with chiefs Malaba and Nyangazonke, all from Matobo District where they also resolved that the rock should not be removed.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Ngwenya, who is the vice chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association said they believed the falling of the rock was a signal that the ancestors wanted to convey some message to the people.
"We have informed Chiefs Masuku, Malaba and Nyangazonke so that they inform others," said Mr Ngwenya.
"I was in Lushumbe in Kezi on Tuesday when I was told about the rock and I organised a team to visit the area and see what could have possibly moved the rock and how it could be moved from the road," said Mr Ngwenya.
He said traditional leaders and chiefs would have to set a date and consult the spirits at Njelele Shrine.
"We said the rock should not be removed before we inform elders at Manyanga Shrine in Bulilima, Dula and Zhilo shrines. We went to inform elders at the Njelele Shrine and Mr Thobela Ncube, the custodian of the shrine suggested that the rock should not be touched until all elders meet," he said.
Mr Ngwenya said when such unusual things happen, elders meet to decide the way forward.
"Of course that could have been a natural phenomenon, which is why we went up the hill to check. We discovered that the rock displaced other rocks and on its way down the hill it uprooted trees. It is only after elders meet that the truth could be established. Asazi ukuthi licaphukeni lelilitshe," said Mr Ngwenya.
In a telephone interview, Chief Masuku said the issue of the rock was complicated and needed to be properly handled.
"This is a serious issue and I cannot come up with a decision without consulting other elders. We sent a team to the place and it has reported back. All I can say is that the rock shows that there is something that needs to be done, which is why we want to engage and find a possible way forward," said Chief Masuku.
He said he had also informed Governor Angeline Masuku.
The deputy president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi, said they would wait to hear from those around the area on the way forward.
Acting Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator Mr Midard Khumalo confirmed receiving a report from the traditional leaders.
Mr Khumalo said his office would engage responsible government departments to assist in removing the rock but would wait for traditional leaders' decision.
"We are aware of the development. We will respect and follow whatever the traditional leaders would suggest as the custodians of culture. We are however, engaging the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Ministry of Transport to work out ways of removing the rock once traditional leaders are through with their formalities," he said.
"I was in Lushumbe in Kezi on Tuesday when I was told about the rock and I organised a team to visit the area and see what could have possibly moved the rock and how it could be moved from the road," said Mr Ngwenya.
He said traditional leaders and chiefs would have to set a date and consult the spirits at Njelele Shrine.
"We said the rock should not be removed before we inform elders at Manyanga Shrine in Bulilima, Dula and Zhilo shrines. We went to inform elders at the Njelele Shrine and Mr Thobela Ncube, the custodian of the shrine suggested that the rock should not be touched until all elders meet," he said.
Mr Ngwenya said when such unusual things happen, elders meet to decide the way forward.
"Of course that could have been a natural phenomenon, which is why we went up the hill to check. We discovered that the rock displaced other rocks and on its way down the hill it uprooted trees. It is only after elders meet that the truth could be established. Asazi ukuthi licaphukeni lelilitshe," said Mr Ngwenya.
In a telephone interview, Chief Masuku said the issue of the rock was complicated and needed to be properly handled.
"This is a serious issue and I cannot come up with a decision without consulting other elders. We sent a team to the place and it has reported back. All I can say is that the rock shows that there is something that needs to be done, which is why we want to engage and find a possible way forward," said Chief Masuku.
He said he had also informed Governor Angeline Masuku.
The deputy president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi, said they would wait to hear from those around the area on the way forward.
Acting Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator Mr Midard Khumalo confirmed receiving a report from the traditional leaders.
Mr Khumalo said his office would engage responsible government departments to assist in removing the rock but would wait for traditional leaders' decision.
"We are aware of the development. We will respect and follow whatever the traditional leaders would suggest as the custodians of culture. We are however, engaging the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Ministry of Transport to work out ways of removing the rock once traditional leaders are through with their formalities," he said.
The rock reportedly fell on Sunday night and rolled down the hill for about 100 metres before landing on Circular Drive, one of the roads in the Matopos National Park.
A team of traditional leaders visited the area on Wednesday on a fact-finding mission and reported back to Chief Masuku who is expected to call a meeting with other traditional leaders in the province.
The team was led by Mr David Mhabhinyane Ngwenya, an inyanga from Kezi but operating from Gwabalanda in Bulawayo.
The other members of the team were Mr Carpenter Moyo, also an inyanga, Headman Ngwizi Gumbo from Gwanda District and Headman Moyo, a traditionalist and custodian of Ntabazika Mambo based in Silobela in the Midlands.
The traditional leaders said the falling of the rock, estimated to weigh between two and three tonnes, could be a signal that the ancestors want to convey a message to the people. They said the traditional leaders should therefore consult ancestors at the Njelele Shrine in Matobo District.
Chief Masuku, in whose jurisdiction Matopo National Park falls, yesterday convened a meeting with chiefs Malaba and Nyangazonke, all from Matobo District where they also resolved that the rock should not be removed.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Ngwenya, who is the vice chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association said they believed the falling of the rock was a signal that the ancestors wanted to convey some message to the people.
"We have informed Chiefs Masuku, Malaba and Nyangazonke so that they inform others," said Mr Ngwenya.
"I was in Lushumbe in Kezi on Tuesday when I was told about the rock and I organised a team to visit the area and see what could have possibly moved the rock and how it could be moved from the road," said Mr Ngwenya.
He said traditional leaders and chiefs would have to set a date and consult the spirits at Njelele Shrine.
"We said the rock should not be removed before we inform elders at Manyanga Shrine in Bulilima, Dula and Zhilo shrines. We went to inform elders at the Njelele Shrine and Mr Thobela Ncube, the custodian of the shrine suggested that the rock should not be touched until all elders meet," he said.
Mr Ngwenya said when such unusual things happen, elders meet to decide the way forward.
"Of course that could have been a natural phenomenon, which is why we went up the hill to check. We discovered that the rock displaced other rocks and on its way down the hill it uprooted trees. It is only after elders meet that the truth could be established. Asazi ukuthi licaphukeni lelilitshe," said Mr Ngwenya.
In a telephone interview, Chief Masuku said the issue of the rock was complicated and needed to be properly handled.
"This is a serious issue and I cannot come up with a decision without consulting other elders. We sent a team to the place and it has reported back. All I can say is that the rock shows that there is something that needs to be done, which is why we want to engage and find a possible way forward," said Chief Masuku.
He said he had also informed Governor Angeline Masuku.
Acting Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator Mr Midard Khumalo confirmed receiving a report from the traditional leaders.
Mr Khumalo said his office would engage responsible government departments to assist in removing the rock but would wait for traditional leaders' decision.
"We are aware of the development. We will respect and follow whatever the traditional leaders would suggest as the custodians of culture. We are however, engaging the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Ministry of Transport to work out ways of removing the rock once traditional leaders are through with their formalities," he said.
"I was in Lushumbe in Kezi on Tuesday when I was told about the rock and I organised a team to visit the area and see what could have possibly moved the rock and how it could be moved from the road," said Mr Ngwenya.
He said traditional leaders and chiefs would have to set a date and consult the spirits at Njelele Shrine.
"We said the rock should not be removed before we inform elders at Manyanga Shrine in Bulilima, Dula and Zhilo shrines. We went to inform elders at the Njelele Shrine and Mr Thobela Ncube, the custodian of the shrine suggested that the rock should not be touched until all elders meet," he said.
Mr Ngwenya said when such unusual things happen, elders meet to decide the way forward.
"Of course that could have been a natural phenomenon, which is why we went up the hill to check. We discovered that the rock displaced other rocks and on its way down the hill it uprooted trees. It is only after elders meet that the truth could be established. Asazi ukuthi licaphukeni lelilitshe," said Mr Ngwenya.
In a telephone interview, Chief Masuku said the issue of the rock was complicated and needed to be properly handled.
"This is a serious issue and I cannot come up with a decision without consulting other elders. We sent a team to the place and it has reported back. All I can say is that the rock shows that there is something that needs to be done, which is why we want to engage and find a possible way forward," said Chief Masuku.
He said he had also informed Governor Angeline Masuku.
The deputy president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi, said they would wait to hear from those around the area on the way forward.
Acting Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator Mr Midard Khumalo confirmed receiving a report from the traditional leaders.
Mr Khumalo said his office would engage responsible government departments to assist in removing the rock but would wait for traditional leaders' decision.
"We are aware of the development. We will respect and follow whatever the traditional leaders would suggest as the custodians of culture. We are however, engaging the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Ministry of Transport to work out ways of removing the rock once traditional leaders are through with their formalities," he said.
Source - tc
