Shembe leader praises emaSwati, to meet King
BETHANY – Leader of the Nazareth Baptist Church, His Holiness Unyazi Lwezulu Shembe, has thanked emaSwati for welcoming him with warm hands in the country.
Speaking after he was officially welcomed by the Minister of Home Affairs, Princess Lindiwe, at Esabelweni in Bethany yesterday, Unyazi Lwezulu said he had never seen a welcoming nation like emaSwati in his first visit to the country.
“This is not to say we are not welcomed in our country but all we are saying is that emaSwati have been the best. We have not struggled with clean water, toilets, among other things. I wish to come back to Eswatini,” he said.
Worth noting is that government provided toilets, water tanks, showers as well as generators at the camp.
Government also provided security, inclusive of police officers and warders. Also, health practitioners were at the camp to attend to any medical emergencies.
Safety
In her brief remark, the minister said the ministry’s duty was to officially welcome Unyazi Lwezulu and ensure safety during the course of the two-week festival.
The minister also stated that her ministry, which is in charge of religious affairs in the country, had a duty to ensure that Unyazi Lwezulu met the country’s authorities.
She shared that a meeting between His Majesty King Mswati III and Unyazi Lwezulu had been scheduled for today.
Unyazi Lwezulu shared the church’s principles and logistics to the minister. He stated that he was always accompanied by elders wherever he went. He mentioned that he did not sit on a chair that had been used by another person before. He then asked for the protocol and expectations when meeting
His Majesty King Mswati III.
“Kumele ngenze njani uma ngiyobona iSilo. Kuhle ukuba ngazi yonke imigomo ngoba ngiyacala ukuza Eswatini,” said Unyazi Lwezulu, loosely translating to mean: “What is expected of me when meeting the King? It is good to know all the protocols since it is my first time in Eswatini.”
A delegation that was sent to Their Majesties responded that it had been informed about the protocols. However, the delegation requested the minister to share some of the expectations.
“Everything has been put in place. You will find protocol officers to welcome and guide you upon arrival,” the minister said.
Prayer
The minister, who was held up in Parliament, arrived at Esabeleni towards the end of the evening prayer. She had to wait until the prayer was over before she was allowed into the premises to meet Unyazi Lwezulu.
Upon arrival, the minister was told how to address Unyazi Lwezulu before she was ushered to the veranda of the main house.
“Shoes off,” the minister was told before she was ushered to the veranda.
The minister was offered a mat to sit on before Unyazi Lwezulu came out of the house. The minister had to wait for some time as Unyazi Lwezulu summoned all the elders to the veranda before he was addressed by the minister.
The elders would respond by saying amen! Ungcwele as Unyazi Lwezulu invited God’s blessing to everyone present.
At the time, the congregation had turned their heads to Unyazi Lwezulu, who was addressing the minister at the veranda.