Be the Shepherd of my Father's people in RSA: Gumede told

Chief Gumede
JOHANNESBURG - History was made on Saturday the 22nd of March 2014 when the Matebele in South Africa celebrated the inauguration of their chief who will represent their ethnic group, (uMthwakazi) in South Africa.
The magnificent event took place at the Yeoville Recreation Centre in Johannesburg. The appointed chief, Albert Zwelibanzi Gumede, was installed under the South African Law and his chieftaincy will be in South Africa.
According to the Traditional Framework Act of 2003, it was last amended in 2009: a chief can be chosen by a traditional King or by a group of people who have called for a gathering (Imbizo) meant to choose a chief. This gave the Matebele an opportunity to legitimise their chief. Vibrant cultural group Inqama was chosen to spearhead the initiative alongside several different groups.
Chief Gumede was sworn in by the royal Khumalo family headed by Hlabezulu of Mava of Sehlaphi of Magidi of Mbamba of Mangwana of Mzilikazi. Other Khumalos who were present included Dumezweni, Frank, Borman and many others.


When Dumezweni Khumalo from Mbonambi's house, gave Gumede an Intonga (stick for chieftaincy), He said "We are giving you this stick, infront of all people here as witnesses, for you to be the shepherd of my father's people in South Africa and please lead my father's children wisely.”
The "father" that Dumezweni was referring to is King Mzilikazi Khumalo the founder of the Matebele nation also known as uMthwakazi kaNdaba, isizwe saMahlabezulu.
Traditional notables who were present included the Zulu Prince Thulani, Zulu Princess Patricia, who is King Zwelithini's younger sister, Prince Elijah Zulu waseNjikini of Mqundeni's house, Inkosi Luter Elijah Sikhosana who represented King Makhosonke Mabhena of the amaNdebele kaMusi (isizwe saManala), Maphenduka Ndlovu from iNjelele shrine in Matebeleland, Christmas kaBhayiskopo Nyandeni, Hlabangana, Shenge, Ngobese of the Mazibuko hostel and James Bhekiseni Ndwandwe, the descendant of Somaphunga of Zwide the Ndwandwe King.


One of the prominent South African businessman invited in the event was Mr. Thwala advised said there must now be an UMthwakazi Foundation which will help abeThwakazi (Matebele people) with scholarships and bursaries. The mayor of Zululand, Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi was also present. She heard about the magnificent event and went to join an extraordinary event.
The publicity team would like to thank everyone who attended the inauguration of the Matebele Chief in the South Africa. The multitudes who attended proved it right that the Matebele people are a proud people, proud of their identity, cultural values and norms.
Various gifts poured in from the community in the form of cattle, sheep, goats and many other gifts, and they were greatly appreciated by the Chief.


Three cows proved not enough to feed the multitudes that came to the inauguration and that was testimony that AbeThwakazi graced the event in huge numbers.
Much bigger and greater events are still coming and people will be notified. We would like to advise our fellow brothers and sisters that they must take caution on the social networks.
Unauthentic media stories devised to indignify everything about our cultural revival and restoration are posted at an everyday basis by a handful of individuals in a bid to cause chaos amongst people of the same cult. Let us not fall prey to such baseless attempts and skeletal criticism. This is an official statement by the officially appointed publicity team. We are proudly Ndebele, proudly amaHlabezulu and proudly Mthwakazi.
We would like to thank the talented musician and poets from Matebeleland that served as lubricants to the fantastic event. We had Amakhosi Amahle, Insukamini, Inkanyezi zeZulu, Abafana bakaMashobana, Abafana bakaMzilikazi, Mehlokazulu, Zinjaziyamluma and Is’banes’namandla. A great stamp was put via the Poets (imbongi) in Thabani Dibi Sibanda and Juniour Ngwenya’s talents.
There was also the pride of all prides in the Nation (Imbabazane) also well known as (amatshitshi) ‘imbali zesizwe,’ flowers of the nation.
Credit goes to the entire crew comprising of these teams: Publicity, Entertainment, Finance, Security, Ushering and Catering. Siyabonga Mthwakazi kaNdaba, ondlela zimhlophe, onduku zibomvu