King Mzilikazi and his “mob” of thugs were more brutal than white settlers.

BULAWAYO — National Healing minister, Sekai Holland has met chiefs in Matabeleland to clarify her comments insinuating that the culture of violence in Zimbabwe started with Mzilikazi, the Ndebele King. Holland has been at the centre of a political storm since she allegedly told a regional dialogue on agriculture and the environment in Maputo early this month that King Mzilikazi and his “mob” of thugs were more brutal than white settlers. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s recent tour of Matabeleland to explain the operations of the unity government was overshadowed by calls for action to be taken against the minister. Last week, MDC-T officials said Holland met Ndebele paramount chief Khayisa Ndiweni at the weekend.


They said the party now feared that Zanu PF would try to exploit the situation to settle political scores. Matabeleland South governor, Angeline Masuku and her Bulawayo counterpart, Cain Mathema unsuccessfully tried to force Tsvangirai to condemn Holland. But the PM said he would only take action after giving the minister a chance to clarify her statements. On Sunday, Tsvangirai told party supporters at the MDC-T 10th anniversary celebrations in Bulawayo that action will be taken against the minister if she indeed made the statements. Although Holland was not immediately available for comment last week, MDC-T youth assembly chairman for Bulawayo, Bekithemba Nyathi confirmed the meetings took place. He said Zanu PF had planned protests against her ahead of the MDC-T celebrations. “The youth assembly knew about the protests that were planned against Minister Holland who had visited Ntabazinduna to meet chiefs there,” he said. “We got wind of the planned protest on Saturday (a day before the rally) and fortunately she did not attend the rally. “We know the people that were hired and most of them were from Zanu-PF. “We told them that we knew their plan and that we would not allow them to disrupt the rally.”

Holland also met a descendant of King Mzilikazi, Prince Zwide kaLanga Khumalo who has warned that the matter has to be handled with caution because it has the potential of dividing the country. Khumalo said it was no longer an issue of whether Holland made the comments or not. “Holland needs to look for a way out of this emotive issue. She has to do something to appease those that have been aggrieved by her statements that have opened old wounds. “During the meeting I had with her on Saturday, she asked me to provide her with advice on how to solve the whole issue caused by the statements attributed to her.

“I am consulting on what she has to do and I am consulting ordinary people, traditional chiefs and civic groups in Matabeleland North, South, Bulawayo and the Midlands on what she can do but obviously we need to have a way that is cultural.” But Khumalo said it was not his advice that she meets Chief Ndiweni. There are also reports that MDC-T officials from Matabeleland are now putting pressure on Holland to do something to put the matter to rest because it is damaging the party’s reputation in the region. BY NQOBANI NDLOVU