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Chidochashe Kossam
THE funeral of the late revered overseer of the Njelele shrine, Solifa Ncube, popularly known as Khulu Thobela, was marred by drama and suspicion as family members clashed over inheritance and power struggles.
As the overseer, Khulu Thobela facilitated spiritual connections and upheld the shrine’s proper functioning, ensuring its significance remained intact.
The tensions escalated to the point where threats were made, and even allegations of poisoning emerged, leaving mourners in a state of fear and disbelief.
Khulu Thobela’s long-time secretary, Gogo MaNkomo, shed light on the conflict that unfolded during the funeral.
She revealed that Khulu Thobela had a complicated marital history, having divorced his first wife after having six children together. Although they were not legally married, the first wife refused to leave the marital home when Khulu Thobela remarried legally.
“Things were hard from the day we arrived in Matopo to bury Khulu,” shared Gogo MaNkomo in an interview.
“The first wife did not want anything to do with Khulu Thobela’s corpse, despite this being his home. She even threatened to chop the coffin.”
The situation became increasingly tense as the family struggled to convince the first wife to allow the burial to proceed.
After much persuasion, she reluctantly agreed.
Just as the situation seemed to be under control, another shocking revelation emerged.
One of the aunts claimed to have overheard the youngest son from the first wife plotting to poison everyone by crushing a bottle and adding it to the food.
Gogo MaNkomo suspected that the underlying issue was a power struggle over who would take charge after Khulu Thobela’s passing.
“From my own point of view, the issue was that of power struggle, emanating from who will take over after Khulu Thobela,” she explained.
The news of the potential poisoning spread quickly, and as a result, no one dared to eat anything at the funeral.
Mourners left the event with empty stomachs, fearing for their safety.
The drama and suspicion surrounding Khulu Thobela’s funeral have left the community shocked and saddened.
As the investigation into the alleged poisoning plot continues, the question of who will inherit Khulu Thobela’s legacy remains unanswered.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
