Njelele invasion saga takes a nasty turn

The Njelele invasion saga by war veterans took a nasty turn at Esigodini on Monday during a meeting involving veterans, traditional chiefs and Zanu PF officials.

Traditional chiefs led by their council deputy president, Chief Mtshane Khumalo told Zanu-PF officials that they are directly responsible for the the invasions as they are supporting war veterans to do so.

War veterans were represented by Jabulani Sibanda while Matabeleland South governor Angelina Masuku stood for Zanu-PF.

Sources at the meeting that lasted from 11am to 3pm said the chiefs were angry at the whole incident.

"Khumalo told Zanu PF that war veterans are getting support from them to invade Njelele shrine and they woiuld be responsible for any thin that would befall the invaders," said the sources.

However, Chief Khumalo said he would only reveal the details of the meeting once he brief his boss, Chief Fortune Charumbira.

"What i can only say is that the chiefs, the political leadership and the war vets agreed that the Njelele shrine should be handled properly," he said.

Sibanda said the chiefs told them off over the invasion by his group. "What we are saying is that something was done wrongly and that must be corrected," said Sibanda.

In the past few months, war veterans mostly from Mashonaland region have been bulldozing their way to the shrine to perform rituals at the site in a move that have angered locals.

They have also threatened to exhume the grave of Cecil John Rhodes.

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