News / National
Coronation is purely a cultural issue and not political
07 Mar 2018 at 11:01hrs | Views
Chiefs Council chairperson chief Mathema told Southern News that the claim to kingship was purely a cultural issue and not political.
He, however, quickly dismissed their links with the Mthwakazi Republic Party who were active during the demonstrations in the city.
"There is nothing wrong with demanding to have our own king. It's lawful and this is just but a cultural thing. It's got nothing to do with politics just like what others want to paint us," Mathema said.
"As for the Mthwakazi members, I saw them at our events and I asked them why they were there and they told me that they were in solidarity with anything to do with the Ndebele people. But we are not into politics and their cause is different from ours," he said.
Chief Mathema also slammed the court ruling against the coronation of the king.
"We are not giving up yet, we will keep on pursuing our cause though we don't want to appear like we are fighting the government."
He, however, hinted that if the legal route in Zimbabwe fails them, they will seek solace outside the country.
"Remember laws do not start and end in Zimbabwe, if we fail here we will go for the international law and appeal until we win our fight to have a king of our own. It's our right and no one should deny us that," he said.
Meanwhile, on Saturday after the courts banned the coronation, the supporters of the Ndebele king went to Barboufields Stadium, the venue where the event had been initially slated for.
While there, the king - Lobengula Khumalo chose to visit his people just to greet them outside the stadium, but the gathering was dispersed by the police, who had cordoned off the stadium.
Feeling hard done, the supporters were secretly carried to Burnside suburb at Chief Nyangazonke's house where the mini-coronation was done.
According to Mathema "the king was meeting his people since he had not been afforded the chance to do so by the law.
"So he was merely greeting his people. It's not a crime to greet people."
He, however, quickly dismissed their links with the Mthwakazi Republic Party who were active during the demonstrations in the city.
"There is nothing wrong with demanding to have our own king. It's lawful and this is just but a cultural thing. It's got nothing to do with politics just like what others want to paint us," Mathema said.
"As for the Mthwakazi members, I saw them at our events and I asked them why they were there and they told me that they were in solidarity with anything to do with the Ndebele people. But we are not into politics and their cause is different from ours," he said.
Chief Mathema also slammed the court ruling against the coronation of the king.
"We are not giving up yet, we will keep on pursuing our cause though we don't want to appear like we are fighting the government."
He, however, hinted that if the legal route in Zimbabwe fails them, they will seek solace outside the country.
"Remember laws do not start and end in Zimbabwe, if we fail here we will go for the international law and appeal until we win our fight to have a king of our own. It's our right and no one should deny us that," he said.
Meanwhile, on Saturday after the courts banned the coronation, the supporters of the Ndebele king went to Barboufields Stadium, the venue where the event had been initially slated for.
While there, the king - Lobengula Khumalo chose to visit his people just to greet them outside the stadium, but the gathering was dispersed by the police, who had cordoned off the stadium.
Feeling hard done, the supporters were secretly carried to Burnside suburb at Chief Nyangazonke's house where the mini-coronation was done.
According to Mathema "the king was meeting his people since he had not been afforded the chance to do so by the law.
"So he was merely greeting his people. It's not a crime to greet people."
Source - dailynews
