King Mzilikazi commemoration preps on

ORGANISERS of the King Mzilikazi commemoration to mark 155 years since the death of the founder of the Ndebele nation, King Mzilikazi Khumalo, are at an advanced stage.

The commemoration is set to be held at the Mhlahlandlela memorial site on September 9 this year.

The commemoration is traditionally organised by Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association and other stakeholders.

Mhlahlandlela, situated 22km from Bulawayo, along the old Gwanda Road, was King Mzilikazi's last known capital.

King Mzilikazi Khumalo died in September 1868.

A representative of the office of the Mzilikazi Royal Kingdom based in Johannesburg, Bornman Khumalo, said preparations were progressing well.

"We are organising transport from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. A lot of people are interested from outside the country as well as people within the country," Khumalo said.

King Mzilikazi's remains were interred at a hill called Entumbane at Matopo, just a few kilometres from colonialist Cecil John Rhodes' grave.

In 2018, government blocked Bulelani Lobengula's coronation as King Mzilikazi's heir because Zimbabwe's Constitution is silent on monarchs.

Matabeleland chiefs, represented by Chief Mathema, filed a court challenge against blocking the coronation on behalf of the Royal Crown Trust, but the bid flopped.

Section 281 of the Constitution only speaks of chiefs and the role of the traditional institution.