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Sikhuphe's brought us doom and gloom

19/04/2009 00:00:00 PHUMLILE SIMELANE

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MALINDZA—Before the project started they were promised the land of milk and honey, now all they see is doom and gloom.

Residents here were told to give way to the Sikhuphe Airport project. They were also told that they would be allocated land in an area where they would never miss their old homes. Their love for the king is the only thing keeping them from boycotting the whole project, they say.

The people have been relocated to a village at Sikhuphe.

They have to part with their most valued assets, their livestock and cannot do what they call their source of life, growing crops at least not as much as they used to. Their fields stand to be reduced.

"I am a man and my manhood and pride is judged by the number of livestock in my kraal. I have 200 goats and about 100 cattle. I was told I would have to sell some of my stock and that gives me sleepless nights," said Jeremiah Madvonsela (70), a farmer.

He said his only source of income was through farming and he stood to lose that when he is moved to the village for the resettled people of the area. He said he was told livestock would be moved to one place for all the residents and there would be only one kraal, which the residents are not happy about.

Simanga Dlamini (72) said he still did not believe he had to part with his cattle because there is no space in the new compounds for a kraal.

"I was also told I would have to sell. The compounds at the village are too small to accommodate my two kraals and I do not think I will be given all my fields back," he said. They wondered how they were supposed to make a living in their compounds and state that the reason they did not settle in townships was because they loved life in their places.

They emphasised that a kraal is very important in a Swazi family as it is a symbol and carried many rituals and ceremonies and important events that includes traditional weddings and communicatibg with our ancestors at any time even during funerals.

King does not want the Matsapha set-up

MALINDZA—At the village, extended families are said to share the three bedroom houses.

Jeremiah Madvonsela said he could not imagine living with his daughters in-law in his house and pointed out that this was uncultural.

"We are told the king said he does not want the kind of housing that exists in Matsapha at the village but we are afraid that will happen if we are made to live in one house as extended families.

"We would have to build one room structures for each son. I have four sons which means there would be four other smaller houses surrounding the three bedroom one," he said.

His words were echoed by Phathi Dlamini who said he could not go to KaNgwane to pay homage to the king waking up from echibeni because it is uncultural.

"I would definitely have to construct my one room house next to my father’s house, this is out of respect," said Dalmini.