Times Of Swaziland: LIONS DECOR ON GATE SEEN AS DISRESPECT TO KING

LIONS DECOR ON GATE SEEN AS DISRESPECT TO KING
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Sabelo Ndzinisa on 13/04/2024 08:42:00


NGINAMADVOLO – An adult man of Nginamadvolo in the Hhohho region has
voluntarily removed pictures of two lions on the gate leading to his homestead
after he was accused by some residents of showing disrespect to the King.
For two years now, the pictures of the two lions formed part of the décor for
the man’s gate but it seems this has not been sitting well with some
residents. In their view, the man’s decision to display the pictures of the
two lions outside his homestead’s gate was an act of disrespect towards not
just the country’s culture but the King himself.
In the Eswatini culture and customs, a lion is associated with the King while an
elephant is aligned with the Queen Mother.
Some residents in the area are said to have taken up the matter with some
umphakatsi members to whom they voiced out their displeasure about the
impression the man’s gate was giving in as far as culture was concerned. It
must be revealed, however , that the two lion pictures have been outside the
gate for about two years now allegedly without anybody complaining, as attested
by the home owner  when speaking to the Eswatini News this week.
Disappointment
He did not hide his disappointment at the manner in which this issue is being
handled, pointing out that the pictures of the lions have been in existence for
a long time. “I am very surprised that there are people who have issues with
the pictures of the lions on my gate because if my memory serves me well, they
have been there for about two years.
“Why have an issue now? It really beats  me, but I have to respect that people
will always have their opinions on things and you cannot control that,” he
said.
Adding, the man said he has not been summoned or interrogated about the pictures
in question either by the police or umphakatsi. “Just the other day, I was
speaking with the chief in Pigg’s Peak town on other issues and he never
mentioned the issue of the pictures. This is a décor I bought because it looked
nice on my gate, there was no malice intended to the King or my culture as
liSwati,” he added.
The man did not hide his growing suspicions that some people in the area were
jealous of his success in life.
“Eversince I built this house, I have been observing negative energies from
some people in my area. I am now even suspecting that those are the very people
who are creating unnecessary drama about the two lion pictures on my gate,” he
said.
Adding, he made it known that he would never disrespect the King because he is
loyal to the country’s authorities.
“Not long ago, some police officers came to my home looking for a boy they
thought was hiding here but they never said anything about the lion pictures on
the gate. Before that, bemanti also came here during the Incwala period but they
never raised an issue about the pictures. That is why I am puzzled as to why it
is an issue now to people in my area,” he said. Out of respect for the King
and the country, the man revealed that he has decided to remove the pictures.
Spite
“I can see that some people want to deliberately take this matter far and
create trouble for me out of spite. I do not want to be seen as a disrespectful
person, which is the reason I have decided to remove the pictures. As we speak,
they are no longer on my gate,” he said. The man said he was now even
sceptical about wearing a t-shirt bearing a lion because some would view it as
being disrespectful.
One of the residents, who claimed to have ‘blown the whistle’ on the man
with the umphakatsi insisting that this was nothing personal. “This was done
purely out of respect for culture, not that anybody has a vendetta against him.
Look, he built his home on Swazi Nation Land, which in cultural terms, is
authorised by the King. “We also all know that a lion is associated with the
King in our culture and you cannot therefore put pictures of lions on your gate.
It is disrespect to the King,” the resident said. Another resident supported
these sentiments, adding that the man’s actions amounted to a fine by the
umphakatsi.