LOUIS TRICHARDT - Following a resolution taken by VhaVenda Chiefs that they wanted Thovhele Toni Mphephu Ramabulana to be their King, a trust fund was established to empower him.

This follows a resolution taken by twenty-four of the twenty-eight VhaVenda chiefs who wanted Mphephu to be their King. Although Kennedy Midiyavhathu Tshivhase opposed the resolution, Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi and the national department of local government and traditional affairs were given the resolution. Besides Ramatlhodi's remark that the government respects what the chiefs resolved, a report-back is still expected on the issue.

However, Chief Jeffrey Ramovha of the Vhavenda Royal Council said, "we have decided to start the Vhavenda King Development Trust to make Mphephu functional."

This was agreed during upon in a meeting held at Landou Guest House in Louis Trichardt last Saturday, between the King's Advisory Council and business people from all over the country, originally from Venda.

An agreement was made that these respected business people should form a committee, which will help to raise an amount of R20 m for the trust. "We formed a King's Advisory Council, comprising a certain percentage of members from Chiefs, and respected business people. The Advisory Council was initiated by the Vhavenda Royal Council, which is an advisory committee of the traditional leadership. The R20m that we are going to collect will help in developing different areas of Venda, according to the needs and requirements of that particular community on a yearly basis," said Ramovha while adding that the trust account was opened on Tuesday.

The Advisory Council proposed that there must be a Makhado Arts and Culture Festival, which will be staged on an annual basis in December. The reason for the festival is to expose Vhavenda culture and tradition.

"Our decision is final and we can't wait for some-one to promote us, we must do it ourselves. We never demanded that the government should recognise our King. We have already set-up an office in Dzata, the home of Mphephu. We are just waiting for furniture, the installation of a phone and full-time staff, which will be handled by the trust until when the government comes in, said Ramovha.