The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
CHIEF Solomon Sivalo Mahlangu, who died on Monday after succumbing to pneumonia, will be buried at his rural home in Nkayi today.
The 97-year-old chief who, at the time of his death, was the country’s longest serving chief, died at Bulawayo’s Hillside Premier Medical Hospital where he was admitted for a day.
Speaking on the sidelines of a memorial service held at the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa yesterday, family spokesperson, Mr Gareth Mahlangu, who was the late chief’s cousin, said Chief Mahlangu would be buried today, with a number of senior Government officials expected to attend.
“We aim to start at 9am and by 3pm we expect that everything will be through to mainly cater for the travelling contingent.
“Those expected to be part of the proceedings include the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Dr Ignatius Chombo, Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, the president of the chief’s council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, among a number of senior Government officials,” said Mr Mahlangu.
He expressed gratitude to everyone who had supported the family during their time of grief, saying the late chief was a man of the people whose death had impacted on a number of people“We have got a lot of support from all circles, which we greatly appreciate as a family, we wish that this spirit continues even to other families who lost their loved ones,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Sivalo has been described as a principled, God-fearing man, who passed on his leadership skills to his entire family emphasizing the need for people to love each other.
“Today the Mahlangu family is so united because of the works of Chief Sivalo. Yes he was a chief but he did not allow this overtake the fact that he was a family man. He was my cousin brother but you would think we were brothers because of the way he conducted himself and emphasized family unity.
“I was an ordinary person, with no title, but he would not do anything without consulting, he would personally come to my house and ask for my opinion on a number of key issues, Sivalo the man always came before Sivalo the chief,” said Mr Mahlangu.
He said Chief Sivalo had left clear footsteps that had to be followed.
Chief Sivalo’s daughter, Mrs Sibonokuhle Mpofu, said their father always had a way of balancing his roles as a father and that of being a chief, ensuring that all these roles were never neglected.
“As we grew up he taught us three principles, which we all passed with flying colours, these being to fear the Lord, respect others and work hard. These three were like a trademark enforced on us as his children.
“Today being parents ourselves, we now continue teaching our children these very principles, I will tell you that my father never worked in his life but due to his hard working nature and goals to take care of us, I do not think we ever suffered,” said Mrs Mpofu.
Prince Peter Zwide Kalanga Khumalo, a descendant of King Lobengula, said Chief Sivalo held an important part in the history of the Ndebele as his father was a member of the royal family.
He revealed that due to this link with the royal family he was so particular and right up to his death was ever pushing for the revival of the Ndebele kingdom.
“His father was so well-liked by King Mzilikazi himself, so much that he was indunankulu (paramount chief), responsible for internal affairs, he was particularly mandated with the princes and princesses welfare. So important was he that on 2 November 1893 when King Lobengula disappeared, he was left with the duty of burning and destroying the king’s palace, Emahlabathini, even when the king disappeared the royal children remained staying at the Mahlangu homestead.
“The late chief here knew of his chieftainship’s importance within the Ndebele kingdom, and he always carried these values and responsibilities left to him by his father. That is why you find that he was always talking about reviving the Ndebele kingdom because he knew that he had a critical role to play in this endeavour,” Prince Khumalo said.
