Matabeleland chiefs to conduct a cleansing ceremony at Njelele,

 

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  MATABELELAND South chiefs yesterday resolved to conduct a cleansing ceremony at Njelele, saying recent unsanctioned visits by a group of war veterans had defiled the shrine.
  
  About 16 chiefs from the province and political leaders met in Esigodini to deliberate on how the issue, which has caused a furore in the province, should be dealt with.
  
  Emerging from the marathon meeting, the chiefs said Njelele should be cleansed to retain its status.
  
  The chiefs said they were committed to rectifying the wrongs that had been done on the sacred shrine.
  
  Chief Malaba of Kezi, who is the provincial chiefs' council chairperson, said the meeting had resolved to start preparing for a cleansing ceremony.
  
  He said chiefs would go back to their areas of jurisdiction and consult spirit mediums and other traditional leaders such as village heads and headmen before a date is set for the ceremony.
  
  "The meeting was meant to discuss what could be done about Njelele. We agreed that as traditional leaders, we should cleanse the place following the recent events where some people conducted unsanctioned rituals. We are going to work in partnership with traditionalists who are in charge of cultural shrines in the province," said Chief Malaba.
  
  "We are going to look at the time that is relevant to conduct such a ritual. We are going back to consult spirit mediums and traditionalists but the truth is that the province is not happy at all. Anyone is allowed to visit Njelele but whoever visits should not do it the way those people did. It was as if they intended to provoke us into a fight."
  
  Chief Malaba said people should respect local leaders in any area.
  
  Chief Mathe from Gwanda District said they would not tolerate anyone from other areas who dictates issues to them.
  
  "We are not happy, which is why we are meeting as traditional leaders. These people have never seen us going to their areas the way they did, that is bad. As leaders, we should ensure no-one messes with our region or tells us what to do because we are able to solve our own issues," she said.
  
  Chief Nhlamba from Guyu in Gwanda District said the unsanctioned visit was "rubbish" and the shrine should be cleansed.
  
  "We do not want that to happen again. These people defiled a sacred place and it is time we tell them to stay away," said Chief Nhlamba.
  
  Governor Masuku, who left the meeting earlier, said her office was happy with the efforts being made by traditional leaders to correct the situation.
  
  "The chiefs are the best people to talk to because it was their meeting, but what I can say is that in their last meeting, they agreed that they would arrange for the cleansing of Njelele to clear the ‘mess' made by those unsanctioned visitors. Today's meeting was all about mapping on how to deal with the issue," said Governor Masuku.
  
  "I am satisfied with the deliberations by chiefs so far and the fact that chiefs are prioritising issues to do with our culture. The province is not happy about how Njelele has been reduced to an ordinary place and people should understand that isizwe yisizwe ngabantu."
  
  She said she was happy traditional leaders in the province had realised it was their duty as custodians of the land to safeguard the interests of the province.
  
  Traditional and political leaders in the province held a series of meetings recently where they condemned the visit to the shrine without their approval as custodians of cultural values.
  
  The issue started when on three occasions, a group of unknown people numbering about 750, 650 and 150 surreptitiously visited Njelele shrine and forced their way in and conducted cleansing ceremonies without the knowledge and approval of the local traditional leadership.
  
  It is alleged that the group of visitors who claimed to be war veterans went to Mozambique sometime ago where they toured places where liberation war fighters died and were buried during the liberation war.
  
  The group reportedly picked up some stones from the mass graves, which they brought to Njelele intending to conduct cleansing rituals as they claimed to be haunted by the spirits of the dead.
  
  Meanwhile, on the issue of the balancing rock that fell off one of Matopos National Park hills, the traditional leaders resolved that it would not be moved from the site until some rituals have been performed.