UMGIDO WE-WORLD PARKS CONGRESS
Umdlalo we "Sekunjalo St. Lucia" owenziwa eCapeVidal
wathakaselwa ngolukhulu ugqozi izihambeli ezabe zivela emazweni ehlukahlukene
ezabe zihambele iPaki ngezinsuku zomcimbi we-World Parks Congress.Lomdlalo
wawuveza ubuhle nobuchule bemvela namasiko ePaki, umbandakanya ukuhaywa
kwezinkondlo zesintu, ukugida ngokuzigqaja kuhle komuntu ongenwa ubungoma.
Loluhlobo lomsindo, umculo nomgido lwaqala lukhombisa ukuxhumana phakathi
kwabantu nendawo abahleli kuyo. Yabe isikhombisa ukuhlukumezeka okwalandela
enva kokuba abantu sebesusiwe kuleyondawo. Lomdla waphetha ngokuveza impilo
entsha yomphakathi nokuthula emphakathini owakhele iPaki.Kulomcimbi kubalwa
amaqembu angu-66 abamba iqhaza ngalolusuku evela ezindaweni ezakhele iPaki.
Phakathi kwalamaqembu kubalwa iPfukani (Kosi Bay), iYoung Stars (Bhangazi
Land Claimants), iSakhisizwe (Bhangazi Land Claimants), Scene to Scene (eMnqobokazi),
oFezela (Kosi Bay), umgido wamaNazaretha (eNibela).
Ngokusebenzisana nenkampani I-Very Very Big Productions abadlali bathola
ithuba lokubona ubuchwepheshe bomdlalo weshashalazi.
Nombeko kaDlamini manages the craft programme for the Wetlands Authority.
Working with 27 craft production groups around the Park to produce and sell
hand-made products for higher-value markets, she is known for her ability
to organise and mobilise people.
With extensive experience in capacity building of small businesses and adult
basic education and training, Nombeko is well-equipped to assist crafters
to deal with the challenges facing them. She has a qualification in adult
basic education and training.
Tony Conway began his conservation career in 1971 with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in Zimbabwe. He served them for 12 years and 1983 became Warden in Charge of the World Heritage Site of Mana Pools National Park in the Zambezi Valley.
He then joined the former Natal Parks Board and worked in Ndumo and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Park for 15 years, where he was Chief Conservator for Zululand from 1995
to 2001. Whilst in HIP Tony pioneered an effective strategic protection
plan for wildlife assets, especially for black and white rhino. He also
developed the first management plan for the famous Imfolozi wilderness area.
In 2001 he transferred to the Wetlands Park where he is Conservation Manager
responsible for the terrestrial area from Kosi Bay to St Lucia including
uMkhuze Game Reserve.
An expert in rhino management, he and serves on the prestigious World Conservation Union (IUCN) African Rhino Specialist Group. He also chairs the KZN Province’s Rhino Security and Management Group.
His conservation expertise and skills, have been widely recognised and he has undertaken consultancies in Zaire, Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Cambodia and Cameroon.
His vision for the Park is to “showcase the principles of conservation
best practice in partnership with communities and stakeholders”.
CULTURAL CAMEO
CONNECTED TO THE SPIRITS
Edmund Mhlongo tells a Bhangazi story
Njojela Mbuyazi could wander along the Eastern Shores and speak to the ancestors
through the hippos. . They would reply and fill him with mystical power.
A reason why you will still hear people talking about wizards when spotting
hippos at night.
It is said the mighty Njojela had the powers to fly through the sky on a
dried cattle hide. The ancestors of Bhangazi gave him his powers according
to his daughter Siwezi.
To inherit such powers Njojela had to undergo an initiation process. First
day he slaughtered a black cow which neighbours feasted on.
After three days he slaughtered a red cow and a white ox three days later.
These he would eat. Whilst doing all these he washed and cleansed himself
with special herbs.
Before the slaughter of the white ox he would speak to his ancestors requesting
them to grant powers to fly using the hide, and powers to communicate with
them through the hippos.
He once surprised a white man from Mtubatuba Court who had come to fetch
him in a 4x4. He refused and said he would see them at the court. The confused
white man warned him that by 11am he should be there. Everyone was surprised
when Njojela arrived at the court on time - before the white man arrived.
That man had powers – such that after practicing his initiation he
went to the pine tree forest, broke a branch and cursed it. The next day
the whole field of trees was dry. Lastly, it was him who also had the powers
to raise and lower the levels of the lake – especially if he didn’t
want white people to come to Bhangazi.
