SCORES of Xhosa-speaking people converged at the Bulawayo Municipal Club in Famona, Bulawayo, to meet King Zwelonke Sigcawu from South Africa who visited them on Saturday. LUYANDUHLOBO MAKWATI OWN CORRESPONDENT
The highly decorated event was marked by a joyous mood punctuated by ululations and traditional Xhosa dances.
Sigcawu thanked the government for cushioning and accommodating the Xhosa people well by giving them land to build a secondary school and cultural village centre where artifacts used by the Xhosa people would be exhibited.
“As Xhosa people in South Africa, we would like to applaud the government of Zimbabwe for allowing us to host such an event. We further thank it for allocating us land where we would construct a secondary school for our people.
“However, I am saddened that our people are not well educated because of the shortage of these facilities,” Sigcawu said.
He also thanked the Xhosa people in Zimbabwe for facilitating the reunification of the two groups after a century.
“I am happy they have managed to keep our culture of maintaining the right of passage from boyhood to manhood (circumcision).
“Despite the fact that there are some values that you might have lost, I would like to thank you that you have managed to maintain the ritual of the rite of passage and I am elated and grateful to your achievements,” the king said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Speaking at the same occasion, Mclaude Tshawe — the prince of the Xhosa dynasty — added that the reunification between the Zimbabwean and South African Xhosa people had gone a long in creating synergies between the two countries.
“The two governments are actually doing a commendable job to keep these two groups together despite the geographical locations,” Tshawe said.
He added that they were working hard to come up with Xhosa books that would be used in teaching the language in Zimbabwe as a way of developing the language and preserving it despite the fact that most African communities were relying on oral literature.
“We intend to bring experts who will come and teach the language since the government has recognised the teaching of all minority languages in the country.
“We believe by teaching our children the language, we should maintain our social fabric as dictated by the demands of the Xhosa society,” he said.
The event was also graced by a Nigerian chief only identified as Chief Achululu and Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa.
