BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Her Majesty the Indlovukazi has warned Eswatini youth against the act of deserting their elders, stating that such an act was not acceptable.
The Indlovukazi said this yesterday (Monday, December 2, 2024) at KaNgcamphalala Chiefdom under Siphofaneni Inkhundla. This was when the Indlovukazi presented gifts to over 200 elderly people under the chiefdom. The gifts included food and blankets, among other gifts.
Speaking through her representative, Bishop Mavovo Mkhonto, the Indlovukazi sternly warned that the elderly people should not be left alone to fend for themselves, yet many of them had been physically challenged. Indlovukazi said she was aware that the elderly people were usually left with their grandchildren by the youth.
“Indlovukazi is aware that you are deserted without food by your children. Unfortunately, they leave you with their children, who are your grandchildren, without helping you with anything because you end up taking their responsibility of taking care of their children (the grandchildren). Indlovukazi said the youth should stop doing that,” Mkhonto said, on behalf of Her Majesty.
Proceeding with the speech, Mkhonto said what was unfortunate in some instances was that when the deserted elderly people died, they were given dignified funeral. “When these elderly people die, they are given dignified funeral and they are buried with beautiful blankets, which they would not afford during their lifetimes,” he said. The Indlovukazi described the elderly people as being special in this country.
KaNgcamphalala Chief Mshikashika Ngcamphalala thanked Her Majesty for having them in mind, within a vast region of Lubombo. The chief said Their Majesties were seen in many different ways, meaning that they also saw the Indlovukazi even through their representatives. He pleaded with the Indlovukazi to keep helping the elderly people.
The elderly people took turns in thanking Her Majesty the Indlovukazi. One elderly man was pleasantly surprised that his chiefdom, KaNgcamphalala, was in the mind of Her Majesty. He said some of the gifts from Her Majesty would be treasured by him. One elderly woman saw this day as one which was planned by God. She said God was seen working through Indlovukazi for them to receive such gifts.
Before getting the gifts, the elderly people also got some form of medical check-ups because a mobile clinic was provided for them. The elderly people also provided gifts to Her Majesty, which included sleeping mats (emacansi), indigenous chickens, among other gifts.
