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SOME FEEL INSULTED BY APOSTLE JUSTICE’S INCWALA STATEMENT

01/09/2021 08:48:00 BY SIBUSISO SHANGE

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MBABANE – Some of the people who take part in the annual Incwala Ceremony feel insulted by the statement made by Apostle Justice Dlamini, who associated the event with witchcraft.

On Sunday, August 22, 2021, the Worship Centre leader repeated a statement he made in 2012, alleging that during the Incwala Ceremony, witchcraft was practised. As a result, he urged church leaders to not fear talking about the issue but guide the country and its leadership against the cultural practice. He was speaking during a one-hour sermon which was aired live from 6pm to 7pm.

Prayer

The man of God said church leaders knew clearly that there was a national cultural event where every year, rituals were performed during the ceremony which was regarded as a national prayer. Worth noting is that Incwala is believed to be a national prayer where the nation gathers inside the cattle byre at Ludzidzini Royal Residence to celebrate the first fruits of the harvest. The nation also celebrates the peace and stability which has prevailed since the country got independence from Britain on September 6, 1968. “We know that most of the things that are happening there are not right. Unless there is something that I do not know or we are just being hypocrites, but we know that there is a lot of witchcraft that takes place there. This type of practice is an indictment for all of us as church leaders to not rest but help the country’s leadership realise that this cultural event will ignite God’s anger and block the country’s prosperity and revival of the country. It will block even the blessings of God because where there is witchcraft, God said he would shy away. It could be that it started when there was still lack of knowledge and all that people were told was that it was culture,” the apostle said.

“Uma kunebutsakatsi lobentekako, kukhulunyiswa kwalabafa nayo yonkhe lentfo, kuhanjwe kuyokhendlwa kubuywe kwentiwe tintfo letitsite kutsiwe kutociniswa live nebukhosi, kutsiwe kuciniswa emaSwati, that thing itokhwebula i-judgement ya-Nkulunkulu,” he said in vernacular. At the time, the apostle said he was grateful that a prayer and fast had been called, saying it was an opportunity for church leaders to stand up and be like the Biblical Jeremiahs, Hezekiels and others.

Renounce

“We need to stand up and say that we appreciate that our leader has seen the need for a national prayer and fast but also tell him that for a prayer to be listened to, there are certain things that we need to renounce and not to allow them to take place anymore. This is because God does not listen to a prayer that comes from environments where there are bad practices like witchcraft,” said the apostle. The Incwala participants said it was disheartening to hear such a statement from a prestigious man of God like Dlamini. Two Minutes Shongwe said he expected men of God like Dlamini to act professionally whenever they saw something wrong with Eswatini culture. Shongwe said the Bible, which he believed Dlamini was reading, was clear on how to approach people believed to be sinners. He said the manner in which Dlamini made the statement was likely to cause resistance as opposed to luring people to repentance. “Angive kahle umpostoli, angilwi naye kepha ngitsi kuyinhlanjana kutsi utawukhuluma ngebutsakatsi esikweni lesive lapho kuhlanganyela khona bantfu labanyenti,” Shongwe said loosely translating to: “May the man of God get me clearly, I am not fighting him in anyway. It is insulting of him to associate our culture, which is attended by many people, with witchcraft.” Shongwe said Dlamini’s statement was tantamount to insulting the attendees of the event.

Witchcraft

“I don’t recall seeing anyone performing witchcraft at the event. All I know is that Incwala is about a gathering where the nation thank God for what He has done for the country as emaSwati put Him first,” he said. Shongwe also said the apostle was likely to lose his prestige if his claims appeared to be untrue. He said it was wrong to make allegations that one could not prove. According to Shongwe, even pastors and apostles spent time alone in their offices and claimed to be praying to God. He said people were suspicious about that but opted to remain silent because they could not prove their suspicions. “Men of God spend time alone in their offices and when asked about that they will say they are praying to God. One would ask what kind of prayer is it that requires privacy. People are suspicious about that but they cannot allege without proof,” he said. In vernacular Shongwe said: “Labanye bafundisi bativalela emahhovisi utsi nawuva uve kutsiwa bayathandaza. Pho bangaze bativalele emahhovisi uma bathandaza? Natsi siyasola kutsi kukhona lokwentiwa ngansense lapha emahhovisini kepha asikhulumi ngoba site bufakazi ngako.”

Edward Masilela said Dlamini made a big mistake by making such utterances. “Ugange kakhulu loyo,” Masilela said. He further mentioned that Dlamini deserved to be called to order by the authorities so that he could prove the witchcraft claims.
Interestingly, church leaders also participate in the Incwala Ceremony. When asked about Dlamini’s statement, President of the League of African Churches Bishop Samson Hlatjwako wondered how the statement came about. Hlatjwako said he heard the criticism about the event. He stated that he was also criticised for participating in the event. However, he did not comment further. Acting Ludzidzini Governor Chief Lusendvo Fakudze referred all questions to the Chairman of Ludzidzini Council, Chief Mdlaka Gamedze. This, Fakudze said, was because the King appointed a council to deal with such matters.

When sought for comment, Gamedze said in life there were people who deserved to be called to order. Gamedze asked if Dlamini could be called to order. “I have heard tindvuna talking about Dlamini’s statements in the past. I heard the late Jim Gama and the late Timothy Velabo Mtetwa talking about Dlamini’s statement. Then the question would be, does he deserve to be called to order if he repeated one and the same statement? I will advise Dlamini to pray to God to remove darkness if he sees it,” Gamedze said.

King

Gamedze also urged the nation to pray for Dlamini. He said every liSwati had a responsibility to defend the King and culture. This, he said, did not require one to be appointed to a higher position. He advised that Dlamini should address his concern with the rightful people as opposed to speaking vile about the national event. When called yesterday, the apostle advised that his previous statement should be used as is. He stated that he preferred speaking in a platform where he could be recorded to avoid being misquoted.