Like a royal heir returning home from a stint abroad to assume the waiting crown, the Shembe leader arrived to a thunderous welcome at the Lavumisa Border Post yesterday.
His Holiness Unyazi Lwezulu’s convoy arrived at the port of entry at around noon. Believers, including pupils, embraced the second coming of the respected clergyman, turning out in large numbers to witnesses his arrival and to receive blessings.
A delegation that was deployed from royalty welcomed the cleric at the border. A strong visible presence of the police, sirens and the waving of hands from barefooted believers greeted the respected church leader right from the port of entry to eSabelweni, in Bethany – the headquarters of the Nazareth Baptist Church.
The cleric, who is popularly referred to as Unyazi lwezulu, is on a three-week visit to the country where he will provide religious or spiritual guidance to church members and the larger public during sessions to be held at the church headquarters, as well as the palace where he will pay a courtesy call to His Majesty King Mswati III.
Upon his arrival, pupils and plain-clothed police were among members of the public who were lucky to be prayed for, in a special way.
Over 200 believers converged at the border just to wave at the clergyman.
Others peeped through windows while some stood by gates to either catch his glimpse or just to feel the air he was breathing as he landed at the border.
It was amazing to see so many people garbed in religious identification enthusiastically trying to get closer to their beloved religious leader in order to communicate their troubles so that they could be prayed for.
Pupils from surrounding schools also sneaked out to place themselves in good position to receive blessings, either to enhance their performance or to be healed from troubling ailments.
“I have never seen people so much excited. They were happy to see His Holiness at close range and to receive blessings.
“He delegated a few priests to convey his message to the people in need of prayers,” narrated a senior church member, who spoke after the clergyman had left the border with his entourage.
His Holiness was happy to be back in the country again.
A lot of cars transported the congregation from neighbouring South Africa during the church leader’s arrival.
It has transpired that this will be a regular sight, at least once every year for the church leader to make the pilgrimage to the country.
Shores
This was confirmed by President of the League of African Churches Archbishop Samson Hlatjwako.
The Nazareth Baptist Church or KaShembe, which is rooted in traditional values, has a significant presence in the country and has its headquarters at eSabelweni, around Bethany.
The respected clergyman started off his journey at Ekwenameni Temple, which is located around Hluhluwe in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of neighbouring South Africa, and proceeded to the Lavumisa Border Post, where he was welcomed by church members.
As this is a second visit, His Holiness showed up with a large entourage, with supporters drawn from as far as Durban.
A senior church member mentioned that the church’s spending is expected to increase during the current year’s pilgrimage, given the large numbers attending the gathering.
The overall costs were estimated to reach more or less E300 000, which will be allocated for expenses such as accommodation for His Holiness, transportation and food for all congregants.
“We expect the numbers to multiply, particularly during the last prayer meeting on the last weekend of June 7. The figures may reach up to 30 000. It is a tradition for people to come in their numbers during the last prayer meeting,” said the church’s Spokesperson Derrick Dlamini, who was also at the border to welcome Unyazi lwezulu.
On the aspect of the accomodation for His Holiness, the church mouthpiece disclosed that members had completed construction work, which included making necessary modifications to the sacred structures at the church’s headquarters since the religious leader does not use hotels.
The KaShembe is one of South Africa’s biggest indigenous churches, especially in KwaZulu-Natal region.
Shembe Church members are known to make an annual pilgrimage to the holy mountain of Ekhana around Durban.
This is described as a unique expression of faith and hope at the beginning of a new year.
This pilgrimage, steeped in tradition and spirituality, holds immerse significance for the members of the Nazareth Baptist Church, and it is believed that the local gathering which will now be held annually at the church headquarters at eSabelweni will be of much significance to the local congregation.
During the last visit by His Holiness, he visited several areas and prayed for the sick and those spiritually troubled.
He also had the opportunity to preside over a mass prayer at the Ludzidzini Royal Residence with His Majesty King Mswati III and Her Majesty the Indlovukazi. That church service was also attended by Zulu monarch, King Misuzulu.
