A chief who was allegedly brandishing a firearm demolished a church while congregants watched helplessly.
The destruction caused damage estimated at E500 000.
On Saturday, members of Kuphila Okusha Kwe Corner Stone Church in Zion at Makhwelela claimed that they watched in disbelief as Chief Siyendane Nzima arrived in his car with his son and four relatives who were on board a tractor.
The tractor, fitted with a heavy chain (luketane), was used to pull down the walls of the nearly complete church building, which had reached the roofing stage. One relative was tasked with filming the demolition from start to finish.
Chief Siyendane, who is also President of the Swazi National Court in Nhlangano, reportedly had no court order authorising the demolition.
According to members, they were alerted beforehand and rushed to the site, only to find the chief giving instructions on how the building should be destroyed.
“We were alerted that the chief was demolishing the church and we rushed there. To our shock, the walls were pulled down with a tractor using a chain. We tried to reason with him but he never entertained us. Instead, he pulled out a firearm,” said one member, who requested anonymity.
The member added that the chief warned anyone who questioned him that they would face consequences.
“He saw us coming and rushed to his car to fetch a gun. He made it clear what would happen should anyone try to stop him.”
After the demolition, Chief Siyendane allegedly threatened to return and destroy the temporary structure the congregation currently uses for worship, claiming the land was also under his authority.
Members insist that the church stands on Esikhotseni Umphakatsi land, not Makhwelela, and that it was properly allocated years ago with a cow paid for kukhonta.
“He opened the gate with his relatives turned ‘impi,’ and started destroying the church. He said he wanted us to suffer with nowhere to worship,” claimed a church member.
Pastor Jerry Dlamini claimed that the church existed long before Chief Siyendane assumed power less than five years ago.
“Even those close to him are questioning his actions. That he did it in person has surprised many of us,” said the pastor.
Police were reportedly alerted after the incident, but the damage had already been done.
Meanwhile, Chief Siyendane confirmed that the church building was demolished on his instruction. He said he had no regrets.
He admitted carrying out the demolition without a court order but denied claims that he was armed. The matter, he added, is now being handled by the relevant authorities.
“They were warned repeatedly to stop what they were doing and advised to forward a cow as part of the khonta process. When they failed to comply, I took this route because they were undermining me and showing no respect,” he said.
The chief explained that he had instructed his libandla to warn the church leadership against continuing the construction without meeting requirements, but the warnings were ignored.
“I reported the issue to the relevant authorities, including the regional administrator. I gave them time to forward the cow, but they failed. Some of the church leaders are my subjects, yet they defied me by continuing construction,” he said.
He accused the church of further defiance during annual prayer services at the umphakatsi.
“Every year, all churches close to worship at the umphakatsi, but this church refuses. I cannot tolerate such lawlessness. Over my dead body; I will not allow it at Makhwelela,” he said.
What angered him most, he said, was that some church leaders also served in his libandla.
