Chief Hobodo installed

09 Nov, 2014 - 01:11 0 Views
Chief Hobodo installed

The Sunday News

chiefs badgeSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
ADOLPH Ncube has been appointed as the new chief of Hobodo area in Mangwe district to mark an end to a two-year-long wrangle over the chieftaincy.
Ncube, who is the son of the late Simon Thela (Chief Hobodo), was announced new chief at a meeting that was attended by traditional leaders, Government officials and family members.

A delegation from the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development had to intervene as families were fighting over the chieftaincy.

The Thela and Matsambana families have been at each other’s throats since the death of Chief Hobodo in January last year.

In an interview 54-year-old Ncube described the quarrels as disrespect for his late father and his predecessors.

“My cousins were against my appointment as the new chief yet they knew that I was the rightful heir to the throne. They were just being driven by greed and jealousy while disrespecting my father and our ancestors,” said Ncube.

He said the area had operated without a chief for over a year, a development which had hindered development within the area.

Ncube said during the meeting they traced the family lineage and discovered that the chieftaincy was under the Matsambani family but it was officially passed onto the Thela family in the 1950s following an agreement made by family elders.

It was against this background that the Matsambani family members were now claiming back the chieftaincy which once belonged to their family.

Ncube said it was, however, deliberated during the meeting that the agreement could not be reversed.

This development did not go down well with Ncube’s cousin, Enock, who also had his eye on the chieftaincy, as he walked out of the meeting in protest over Ncube’s appointment.

When the wrangle started the Thela and Matsambani families were initially given a grace period to resolve their dispute internally but failed.

A meeting was held in May at the homestead where Enock who is from the Matsambani family was appointed the new chief but family members opposed the decision.

Enock’s family members rejected him after pointing out that he was an illegitimate child while the Thela family claimed that the heir had to come from their family.

Matabeleland South Provincial Administrator, Mr Midard Khumalo who was part of the delegation said the commission which comprised representatives from the Ministry and traditional leadership had been sent on a mission to resolve the dispute.

He said the purpose of the meeting was to help the families reach a common ground based on the family’s proper lineage system and the correct procedure of appointing a chief.

The delegation comprised the Director of traditional leaders Chief Masendu, Chief Wasi, Chief Maduna, Matabeleland South provincial administrator Midard Khumalo, Mangwe district administrator Felicity Gangada and Bulilima district administrator Ethel Moyo.

 

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