Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) president Mqondisi Moyo has written a letter to Bulawayo City Council, giving the local authority a week to remove Mbuya Nehanda’s statue mounted at Mzilikazi Art Craft centre in Mzilikazi suburb in Bulawayo.
In his letter, Moyo wrote that Mbuya Nehanda’s statue should be replaced with that of a Ndebele hero or heroine. He wrote:
The presence of Mbuya Nehanda statue is of little significance, not only to the city but to Mzilikazi Art Centre situated in Mzilikazi suburb and named after King Mzilikazi.
There are quite a number of Ndebele significant people whose statues can be erected there. The likes of King Lobengula, Queen Lozikeyi and many more Ndebele heroes and heroines.
Mbuya Nehanda is a First Chimurenga heroine who was captured and hanged by the white settlers for her leading role in starting and directing the war.
Meanwhile, MRP is a secessionist movement whose objective is to create a breakaway state from Zimbabwe constituting the southern provinces of the country.