Our nation is made up of Vandzawu, Vankomati, Vatembe, also known as Varhonga, Vaxika, and Vaxingwidzi. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa recognizes the name of our language as XITSONGA.
It is therefore concerning when, both on air and online, Munghana Lonene FM and some of its staff refer to our community as a “half-ethnic-group, half-tribe,” and at times refer to Xitsonga as Xichangani.
If we truly see ourselves as one people, then the question arises: why is one particular group, Machangani, repeatedly singled out within our collective identity? Was there an error in how government recorded the name of our language and people? And if we emphasize one group, even though they are already included in the broader whole, what message does that send to the rest of us?
Let us consider it from the other side as well. How would we feel as a collective if tomorrow we were all referred to as Vatsonga-Van’wanati? Similarly, would our Machangani brothers and sisters accept being labeled as Valoyi, or Varozwi? If we ask all Tsonga groups to celebrate, embrace, and protect “Vuchangani” as part of our heritage, then consistency and mutual respect must guide how we treat every subgroup within the nation.
The term “Tsonga” is intentionally inclusive. Whether a person traces their roots to Vumbai, Vukaranga, or KwaNongoma, they can rightfully identify as Mutsonga. Being Mutsonga is not limited to one river, one chiefdom, or one region.
When a national platform like MLFM, even unintentionally, links the entire collective identity to one group, it risks deepening confusion about who we are. There is no harm, and no discrimination, in using “Tsonga” on its own. What has caused pain over the years is that on several occasions, some voices within the Machangani community have publicly rejected being identified as Vatsonga, and this has happened without meaningful dialogue or resolution.
N’we Vatsonga, nation building begins with clarity. Until we can agree with respect on who we are and what we call ourselves, we will struggle to move forward together with one voice.
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