Organisers of the Mzilikazi Cultural Festival set for Wednesday and Thursday next week at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds have dismissed claims there was bad blood between them and the Khumalo royal family.
Addressing journalists in Bulawayo last week, two directors of the Institute of Ubuntu, Vimba Masuku and Dumiso Matshazi, said contrary to reports they were not competing for recognition.
Early this month, the Khumalo family organised similar commemorations at Mhlahlandlela, south-west of Bulawayo, to celebrate the life and death of the Ndebele founding king, Mzilikazi Khumalo.
There have been numerous reports of sharp differences between Umthwakazi KaMzilikazi, organisers of the Mhlahlandlela celebrations, and the Institute of Ubuntu. Said Matshazi: “As an organisation and as Ndebele-speaking people, and as Africans, we don’t need to ask for permission from anyone to celebrate Mzilikazi.
“He is in the public domain, he is not copyrighted. Notwithstanding that, we decided to engage the uMthwakazi KaMzilikazi and Umthwakazi Trust over the event. The first meeting was not successful because one of our directors was not there. The second meeting was successful.
“What we agreed on was that as the people of Matabeleland the month of September should be recognised as the month of culture when we celebrate our cultural heritage.”
Matshazi said their celebration was purely cultural and meant to foreground cultural tourism.
Masuku also said in their engagement with the royal family, they were encouraged to go ahead with the event.
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“One of the elders told us to do this thing, but not involve too many Khumalos in it because they are the children of the king,” he said.
