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Chief Khayisa Ndiweni

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
CHIEF Ndiweni will next week lead a delegation of 16 members of the Amangwe people to South Africa for the annual Amangwe cultural celebrations in that country.

The commemorations, which bring together more than 1 000 people from the Amangwe clan dotted around Southern Africa, will be held in ENtshenteka, Hlobani near Vryheid outside Durban.

Named Umgubho, the Amangwe celebrations will be held September 28 to 30 and this year’s theme is “Upholding ubuntu for national progress.”

Amangwe King Ntshosho Zwane II is scheduled to attend the event accompanied by a delegation from South Africa. The Amangwe people, who are a sub-section of the Ndebele nation, are found in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland and Mozambique.

Zimbabwe Amangwe spokesperson, Fredrick Ndiweni said the delegation will depart on September 27, for the trip to further strengthen relations with their kith and kin.

“This is the second time that we’ll be travelling with Chief Ndiweni as the head of delegation. It’s going to be a grand occasion where we meet with our kith and kin from all over southern Africa, to cement our ties and enhance cultural exchange,” said Ndiweni.

He said on the first day they will meet King Ntshosho Zwane II and speak to him.

“We shall meet with the king and talk about our challenges as a people and what is the way forward in terms of uniting culturally. He’ll also give us advice about one or two things and also just generally getting to know the king,” said Ndiweni.

It is said the Amangwe bore Ndebele king Mzilikazi. Historians say that King Zwane bore King Mangethe who was a king in the days of Zulu king Tshaka.

King Zwane had a daughter Cikose who was mother to King Mzilikazi.

The Amangwe celebrations have been held annually since 2012 when the Amangwe clan in Zimbabwe were reunited with their kith and kin from South Africa and Swaziland after 180 years of separation. Since then, they have travelled to South Africa every September and Swaziland every March to strengthen their cultural ties and heritage.

@bonganinkunzi