Paul Nyathi|Chiefs from Matabeleland North led by Speaker Of Parliament Jacob Mudenda’s home area chief, have recommended Minister July Moyo to remove Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni from his post, since his elder brother, Mr Joram Ndiweni, who is based in the UK is allegedly still contesting the chieftaincy.

According to the Chiefs, on the advice of ZANU PF Secretary of Administration Obert Mpofu as it has since emerged, in Ndebele custom, chieftainships pass from father to the eldest son, which is a deliberate incorrect interpretation of the Ndebele culture.

The Ndebele culture, which the Chiefs are custodian to, has never stated that the eldest of the outgoing chief’s sons is an automatic successor but states that the new chief is chosen from amongst the sons where in the family elders consider varied advantages amongst the sons to come up with an heir.

That the norm amongst most cases has seen the eldest son taking over the Chieftainship has never changed the culture.

As was the case with the Ndiweni Chieftainship when Chief Khayisa Ndiweni died in 2010, Chief Ndiweni’s widow, Agnes, advised government that the family had gathered and agreed to install her last born son, Nhlanhla ahead of his two brothers Jotum and Douglas.

According to the Chiefs Jorum was meant to be the heir on virtue of him being the eldest of the sons causing an unnecessary furore.

In an affidavit presented to government at the time of appointing Nhlanhla, the Ndiweni family said that Jorum “would never make a respectable chief that the people of Ntabazinduna deserve” because of “various other deeper stuff that make him not to be the chief.”

The family also disqualified the other son Douglas as he “cannot be trusted, he is dishonest (and) a rabble-rouser.”

After the appointment of Nhlanhla, Jorum tried to contest the appointment but was advised of the futility of his contestation by the family and appeared to have dropped the case and backed his younger brother until recent when Nhlanhla clashed with Obert Mpofu who sources within the saga accuse of trying to incite Jorum to revive the appeal.

The sources further accuse Mpofu of trying to use the Matabeleland Chiefs to get rid of Nhlanhla who has been fighting Mpofu over cattle belonging to the Ntabazinduna royal family which Mpofu illegally took over from a farm during the land resettlement programme.

Chiefs from the province convened in Bulawayo on Saturday and recommended that Chief Ndiweni be removed from the position allegedly pending finalisation of the dispute.

Chief Mtshane Khumalo of Bubi, who is Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs’ deputy president, said the provincial assembly only got to know that the battle was raging on recently and were shocked that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works had not told them.

This followed a directive from the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs that the provincial assembly should address the issue, said Chief Mtshane.

“The issue was discussed because of the challenge by the elder brother who is saying he is ready to take over the chieftaincy,” he said.

“When he (Chief Ndiweni) was appointed, we sent a delegation of chiefs to the family and they gave us Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Kayisa’s name.

“No one mentioned the issue of the court challenge by the elder brother until recently when we were given the documents from the ministry that prompted us to meet as the provincial assembly.”

Chief Mtshane said the provincial assembly, chaired by Chief Shana of Jambezi, Jacob Mudenda’s home area, used its powers and recommended the national chiefs’ council to rescind the appointment.

“As traditional leaders, we resolved that the matter must go back to the family so they resolve the issue and if they agree or fail to agree, they will then come back to us,” he said.

“The family decides and we only help as the assembly.”

Chief Mtshane said in Ndebele culture, the first born son assumes chieftaincy unless he declines and even then has to justify his refusal to assume office a highly incorrect interpretation of the Ndebele culture.

Chief Ndiweni, who could not be reached for comment, reportedly approached the Ministry of Local Government recently enquiring why he had not been sworn in since his appointment in 2014.

He is said to have written to the President’s Office noting his displeasure, resulting in the Minister of Local Government being ordered to address the issue.

The minister forwarded the matter to Chief Charumbira who referred it to the provincial assembly, hence the Saturday meeting.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo, under whose ministry the traditional leaders fall, referred questions to the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Richard Moyo.

Chief Ndiweni was appointed by former President Robert Mugabe, resulting in his traditional anointment by the family in 2014.

No Government official, and none of Chief Ndiweni’s brothers — Joram, now aged 75, Douglas and Ian — attended the ceremony which was presided over by some family members and members of the community.

Chief Ndiweni had not been sworn in as the case is pending at the High Court.

Additional reporting: State Media.