By Zweli Martin Dlamini
Africa-Press – Eswatini. When the Babylonian Empire conquered Jerusalem around 605 BC, agents of King Nebuchadnezzar grabbed Daniel together with three(3) of his friends Shadrach,Meshack and Abegnego.
Daniel and his three friends were among those who were forced out of Jerusalem and exiled to Babylon where they were subsequently forced to worship other gods, despite the challenges they were facing, they remained loyal to the Almighty God.
But there are similarities between the ancient Empires that existed before and after Jesus Christ came to earth, the Egyptian Empire under King Pharoah allegedly forced Israelites to worship other gods.
The Roman Empire that killed Jesus on politically motivated treason charges after accusing him of calling himself “The King of Jews”, had idolized the Mosaic Law, also known as the Law of Moses.
As a result, some people would be killed merely for, violating the Law of Moses which was regarded as supreme and a regulatory framework for their religion.
Well, what should be understood about the spirits of worshipping idolized gods that was upon King Nebuchadnezzar around 605 BC is that, those spirits are still alive and functioning even today.
Indeed, the spirits of superiority, dictatorship, greediness and the desire to worship or force citizens to worship idolized gods that used to dwell in previous King’s even before Jesus Christ came to earth, have been alive and transitional.
This means when a King dies, those spirits leave the corpse and look for another dwelling place across the planet, spirits dwell in human beings or anything that breathes.
In the spiritual context, we may write and read about the late Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar who was forcing citizens to worship his gods when in fact, the spirit of Nebuchadnezzar is now existing at Ludzidzini or Lozitha Palace ruling over this country.
Unleashing BeManti to harass citizens and force them to bow to the Incwala spirits is exactly what King Nebuchadnezzar was doing, he forced his subjects including the exiled Israelites to worship his idolized gods.
Well, during the drafting of the current Constitution by the Prince David led Commitee over twenty(20) years ago, Christianity was placed as the supreme religion.
But King Mswati was advised to remove that clause and replace it with “freedom of religion”.
The late human rights advocate Dr. Joshua Bheki Mzizi was among those who were vocal in calling for the removal of Christianity as the supreme religion of this country, Mzizi was a sernior Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Eswatini(UNESWA).
Mswati was told that, if he allows Christianity to be the supreme religion, that would mean his Incwala rituals are below Christianity and he might not be allowed in terms of the supreme law, to worship his gods.
The King who felt his Throne was threatened even went public to justify why that clause constitutionally placing Christianity above all religions in the country was removed,he said;
“Inkholo yebu-Krestu ayidzingi kwesekelwa ngema-Constitution vele ingetulu”.
With these sentiments, Mswati was playing double standards, knowing that Christians are a majority in eSwatini and they were shocked to learn that the clause has been removed, the King wanted to be seen as if he “believes in the supremacy of the Christian religion” when in fact, he was deeply rooted on Incwala rituals.
But personally, I had no problem with the removal of that clause, “freedom of religion” was a very progressive clause and those who advised the King including Dr. Mzizi did every well.
Even God gave human beings the right to choose between Heaven and Hell without any duress.
As an editor,I will be publishing articles about Incwala not because I believe in Mswati’s gods but because a publication is not a church and cannot be driven by my personal religious beliefs.
I am obligated to publish the stories and the people will then choose whether they want to attend Incwala or not, it’s their choice that should not be influenced by the editor’s religious beliefs.
Therefore, in as much as I may criticize the King,I am alive to the fact that Mswati has a right to freedom of religion and, he must be allowed to worship his god together with his followers who believe Incwala is a prayer.
I used to dance Incwala at a very young age with my grandfather, there was a time when the atmosphere would change inside Sibaya when certain songs like “Incaba ka-ncofula” and “kusekhene-khene we-Nyatsi yaMswati, emandla esilo”, are sang at the peak of the main Incwala ritual ceremony.
In fact, some of these Incwala ritual songs capture your spirit as you dance and, I don’t blame those who believe Incwala is a prayer,I used to believe that too until Jesus Christ saved my life.
But I cannot conclude that those who attend Incwala are not entitled to follow their religion, I am only against the abuse of power to force citizens to worship Incwala gods by unleashing BeManti.
It must be understood that, some of us have no spiritual obligation whatsoever, to bow to BeManti and, the King must not violate our rights.
King Mswati must host Incwala without undermining the citizens’ right to worship their own God.
It is absolutely wrong to unleash BeManti to harass citizens who resist to bow to BeManti, forcing citizens to worship other gods means “the spirit of King Nebuchadnezzar is upon Mswati”.
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