Descendants of King Lobengula say they want the government
to give them back land where the Bulawayo State House was built to restore
their heritage.
The King Lobengula Royal Trust wants to turn the area in
Sauerstown into a cultural hub that will help preserve Ndebele culture.
Prince Zwide Khumalo said time had come for the government
to consider returning the land to its rightful owners.
“The politics of the right to claim ownership of Bulawayo
lies in the bitter history of oppression by white colonialists,” he said.
“Cecil John Rhodes grabbed
the King’s palace, eMahlabathini, and built his house on
that land.
“In our culture no one builds his house on another man’s
yard (unxiwa) unless with the express permission of the owner of the land.
“The identity of one’s homestead is anchored on the rituals
of establishing the home (isikhonkwane). Cecil John Rhodes did not know or care
to observe the
Ndebele culture when he aggressively grabbed and occupied
our land.
“In fact, there is no history record that indicates that
isikhonkwane for our palace was ever removed.”
Khumalo said the area where the State House was built used
to be King Lobengula’s palace. Standard
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