Harare, Zimbabwe (News of The South)- King Munhumutapa, the recently reinstated monarch of Zimbabwe, has issued a scathing critique of King Charles’ decision to celebrate his birthday in Zimbabwe through a visiting UK minister, without prior communication or acknowledgement of the re-established Zimbabwean monarchy. The King has also used the occasion to forcefully reiterate demands for the repatriation of Cecil John Rhodes’ remains from Matopos.
United Kingdom Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, is expected in Harare this week where he will lead the early celebrations of King Charles III’s 75th birthday on Wednesday, June 11. Although the British monarch’s official birthday is on November 14, the UK traditionally.
In a fiery address, King Munhumutapa questioned the rationale behind King Charles’ “hiding” behind a minister for the birthday celebration, particularly given Britain’s history as Zimbabwe’s former coloniser. “There is nothing wrong to celebrate his birthday in Zimbabwe,” King Munhumutapa stated, “maybe King Charles sent this Minister to see his children buried at Matopos.”
However, this seemingly benign visit has reignited deep-seated grievances concerning colonial legacies. King Munhumutapa declared that the UK minister’s visit “should include their preparation to carry back the remains of Rhodes and his men because we will soon be exhuming them from Matopos.” He added, “My sacred rock, which they defiled by burying Cecil John Rhodes and his children, I, its owner, now want to use it.”
Issuing a stern ultimatum, King Munhumutapa asserted, “Let them sort this Cecil John Rhodes issue once and for all. They should not occupy my sacred rock in Zimbabwe.” He further suggested an alternative for those wishing to engage in “tourism with Rhodes’ remains,” directing them to “Mbidzi shrine near Trabablas interchange.”
The King emphasized the historical injustice of Matopos, stating, “I, King Munhumutapa, the owner of Zimbabwe, refuse to stand by while this issue continues.” He demanded a response from the UK minister within two weeks of his return, emphasizing, “We are now ready to restore Zimbabwe’s spiritual power.”
King Munhumutapa also sharply criticised Minister Mthuli Ncube’s involvement in the event, labelling him a “puppet minister” and questioning his jurisdiction over traditional matters. “Mthuli Ncube, you are a sell-out! Why are you accepting things that are not under your portfolio?” he exclaimed, adding, “Zimbabwe is a country with traditional and spiritual owners, it’s not for playing around with.”
The King suggested that the unannounced birthday celebration might be a covert attempt by the British to conduct “private business” in light of the return of the Munhumutapa kingship. He drew a parallel to the colonial era, saying, “Soon we will expose what Queen Victoria did by killing Mbuya Nehanda through ritual murders.”
King Munhumutapa expressed suspicion that the British now “want to return under the pretext of celebrating a birthday, we can’t allow that. They imagine they can disturb our kingship again, it’s not possible.” He also alluded to the desire for “more gold,” but stressed that they would be compelled to return what they had already taken.
The King concluded with a vivid metaphor, stating, “It goes like one thing following another, like a donkey and flour. Did the flour go with the donkey, or did the donkey go with the flour?” He likened the situation to a paraffin lamp, with the “string ending as the paraffin ends,” signifying the eventual conclusion of these colonial-era intrusions. “They are doing their private business because they see the return of King Munhumutapa,” he reiterated, signaling a new era of assertive sovereignty for Zimbabwe.
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