PREPARATIONS for King Mzilikazi commemorations, the Umgubho ceremony, are in the final stage, organisers have said.
The occasion, which celebrates the legacy of the Ndebele King, is set to take place on September 9 at Mhlahlandlela, 22 kilometres south of Bulawayo. One of the organisers, Kwanele Khumalo told the Southern Eye yesterday that preparations for the occasion were in order.
“It’s all systems go. We will gather at the King’s grave. Expect a lot of cultural activities and lessons on history and traditions of the Ndebele people,” he said. “Everyone must be at Bulawayo City Hall car park by 8am in the morning where we will all depart from on the big day.”
In Bulawayo, the celebrations will start with a march from Matshobana to City Hall via Nguboyenja, Mzilikazi and Lobengula Street.
The two townships and the streets are named after Matshobana kaMangethe, chief of the Khumalo clan.
Mzilikazi was the founding father and first King of the Ndebele State when he left Nguniland after rebelling against King Shaka around 1826. He had been Shaka’s trusted lieutenant.
Mzilikazi absorbed a significant number of tribes en route to Northern Transvaal from Nguniland, which became his subjects in the Ndebele kingdom.
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