Maseko Ngonis will this year not celebrate the annual Umhlangano Cultural Festival as they are mourning the death of its prominent members former vice-president Saulos Klaus Chilima aka SKC and musician Lucius Banda.
The late Chilima was also Inkosi ya Makhosi Gomani V’s adviser, traditionally known as Impi Bhiyeni while Banda was Maseko Heritage Trust active member in the fundraising committee.
In a statement annoucning the cancellation, Gomani V said the Maseko Ngonis are observing three months mourning period.
“As Maseko Ngonis, we are going through a very trying period when every dark cloud seems to have engulfed the Maseko Ngoni in particular and the country in general,” reads part of the statement.
Gomani V said the sudden departure of Impi Bhiyeni has left a gap in Maseko Ngoni formation which is very difficult to fill if at all.
“As if the loss of Impi Bhiyeni was not enough, I received the heart-breaking news of the passing of Mnuzane Lucius Banda, who was also a member of the fundraising committee of the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust,” he said.
Umhlangano was scheduled to take place in the first weekend of September.
