Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna, with the
aid of known anti-Government activists, yesterday stage-managed an attack on
himself by people he claimed to be Zanu-PF youths in Bulawayo.
The chief, who claimed his assailants sought to confiscate
his Government-issued vehicle, was pictured pouring petrol all over the car and
threatening to burn it if anyone touched it.
The pictures went viral on social media after being
published by activists led by Zenzele Ndebele, who recently claimed to have
survived a suspicious accident in which all four bolts on the “lower control
arm of the front wheel on the left side of my vehicle came off simultaneously”.
A senior Zanu-PF official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, poured cold water on Chief Ndiweni’s claims saying “his story simply
does not add up”.
“For starters, it is a known fact that all Zanu-PF
structures in Bulawayo were dissolved. How did Chief Ndiweni know that his
attackers were Zanu-PF youths; did they identify themselves as such? The
pictures that Ndebele posted do not show any Zanu-PF regalia.
“Secondly, how was this attack coordinated, considering
that Ndiweni lives in Ntabazinduna and not Bulawayo? How did Zanu-PF youths
know where he was in Bulawayo? Did they prophesy his presence in Bulawayo?
“This event was clearly stage-managed and broadcast by
Ndebele a few minutes after it allegedly happened. If that is not suspicious, I
don’t know what is,” the official said.
Chief Ndiweni has been accused of abusing his position to
further the agenda of the opposition MDC-Alliance with Zanu-PF challenging him
to step down from the chieftaincy and join mainstream politics.
Apparently angered by the Government’s decision to resettle
an indigenous farmer at a farm in Ntabazinduna previously occupied by a white
family, Chief Ndiweni last week addressed a Press conference in Bulawayo and
called for tougher sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Chief Ndiweni sensationally appealed to the international
community to escalate sanctions on President Mnangagwa’s Government, claiming
it has failed to pursue democracy.
It is understood that before addressing the Press, Chief
Ndiweni wrote to a number of foreign embassies calling for further sanctions to
be imposed on Zimbabwe.
He has also set up a parallel organisation to the Chiefs
Council under the banner of College of Amakhosi, where he is reportedly seeking
to rope in some traditional leaders from Matabeleland and Midlands provinces.
After the 2018 elections, Chief Ndiweni visited Mr Chamisa
to “endorse” the MDC-Alliance leader despite his defeat in the polls at the
hands of President Mnangagwa.
Besides his links with the Chamisa-led party, Chief Ndiweni
has had liaisons with secessionist movement Mthwakazi Republic.
However, the relationship with the two are said to have
suffered a temporary knock after Chief Ndiweni and some colleagues visited Mr
Chamisa to update him about the “installation” of a Ndebele King in South
Africa.
Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chair Cde Richard
Moyo said they are aware of all Chief Ndiweni’s shenanigans.
“He must just join politics and leave the chieftaincy. He
should join mainstream politics by joining these political parties that he is
aligned to or even form his own and we will show him how winning politics is
played, he has no chance against Zanu-PF,” said Cde Moyo.
“In pursuit of a political agenda, he has chosen to
advocate for the suffering of the people instead of working towards their
development and unity. We know that initially he was running with secessionist
movements like Mthwakazi and later we heard he was endorsing Chamisa despite
his loss in the 2018 elections.”
Cde Moyo urged traditional leaders to ignore Chief Ndiweni
and continue working for the people.
“He has shown his true colours and his destructive politics
and I don’t think any self-respecting traditional leader who has their people
at heart can follow such kind of behaviour. They should just ignore his
attempts to divide the chiefs in the country,” he said.
In a statement on Sunday, Secretary for Information,
Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said Chief Ndiweni’s
utterances were inhuman and against Zimbabwe’s cultural beliefs.
‘‘Chief Ndiweni sentiments are deplorable, parochial and
ignorant coming from a traditional leader,’’ he said. ‘‘It is tragic that one
of those constitutionally expected to uphold our customary values and community
cohesion has chosen to not only be a controversial political player, but to
repeat a shameful familial history by calling for suffering to be visited upon
the people of Zimbabwe.’’ Herald
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