Africa-Press – Eswatini. King Bulelani Lobhengula KaMzilikazi says Eswatini is lucky to have a government that fully supports their King.
The leader of Mthwakazi nation who attended the Incwala ceremony at Ludzidzini Royal Residence on Tuesday for the first time, said he had noted that some governments were reluctant to support traditional structures, which was not the case in the Kingdom.
He stated that they arrived in the country on Saturday and were fortunate to see Ingatja cutting Lusekwane and delivering it before Their Majesties.
King Bulelani, who is from Zimbabwe, stated that it was his first time attending Incwala in Eswatini and was happy to be part of the event, which he said unified the Nguni tribe.
“You are lucky because you have a government that works in unison with traditional leadership as the real custodians of the people and cultures.
“Eswatini, Kwa Zulu Natal and Zambia, all practise such events and for us in Zimbabwe it is a resuscitation of our past, as before me, we have not had a king for 125 years, which is five generations in total,” he said.
King Bulelani, who had a private coronation in 2018, said they had, since then, implemented cultural practices like holding imbizo gatherings while also trying to amend their relations with government.
He emphasised that people were slowly trying to revert to the upliftment of traditional leadership as they had come to realise that options were not working.
“Some end up putting the Roman Dutch Law before our Customary Law when we could generate a proper constitution focusing on the people it is supposed to serve, these being the indigenous people,” he added.
He said it was important to allow people to choose what they want and where they want to affiliate as opposed to imposing foreign beliefs on them.
He said it was beautiful to see people going back to their roots and practising what forms part of their identity willingly. He stated that it was also beautiful to see commonalities among the Nguni cultures, which he said brought unity and a sense of pride.
“Being united is great. We will use our experience of Incwala here to resuscitate our traditions and culture. We are here to learn, share and form relations because unity is key to success,” he said.
One of the King’s delegation members Vusi Maseko stated that he noted that Emaswati were kind, caring and loved their culture and traditions.
Maseko stated that they like travelling to attend cultural ceremonies because for them, it’s a journey of restoration, growth and revival of their kingdom.
“We want to learn and rebuild our kingdom that was once powerful and strong.
youth
“I also liked the youth- dominated event of cutting Lusekwane because it shows that Eswatini will never lose its identity as it grooms young people,” he said..
Others in the delegation also shared that they received love and were in a spiritual journey because these ceremonies were thanksgiving to the ancestors and asking them (ancestors) to give more strength to the King and nation.
They said it also built unity and they wished that as Mthwakazi nation, they could emulate Emaswati.
they added that it was also a reunion for them as they met ‘amaNtungwa’ in the country and wished to visit more.
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