The Sunday News
Lungile Tshuma Sunday News Correspondent
THE Ndiweni chieftaincy wrangle seems to have been put to rest as the family has started making preparations for the official swearing in of Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni who was officially appointed as substantive Chief Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna in June this year. Sunday News can reveal that Nhlanhlayamangwe is set to be officially availed as Chief Ndiweni on 31 January next year, as Government has reportedly given him the nod despite the matter still pending at the High Court. The chieftaincy wrangle spilled to the High Court after Chief Khayisa Ndiweni’s widow, Agnes, crossed swords with her first and second born sons, Jorum and Douglas by convincing the Government to install her last born son, Nhlanhlayamangwe.
Nhlanhlayamangwe was supposed to be officially announced as Chief Ndiweni in August last year but the move was stopped by Jorum who insisted that he was the heir apparent and that Nhlanhlayamangwe’s appointment was against Nguni culture.
Despite the matter being before the court, Nhlanhlayamangwe said: “It is common knowledge that no-one goes against the executive powers of the President,” as he was long appointed to be Chief Ndiweni by President Mugabe.
This paper is in possession of letters from Government informing the Ndiweni family and other Government officials that Nhlanhlayamangwe has been appointed substantive Chief Ndiweni.
A letter addressed to Matabeleland Provincial Administrator Ms Latiso Dlamini by the Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, which used to preside over traditional leadership before the setting up of the new ministry of Rural Development, Preservation of Culture and Heritage reads:
“We are pleased to inform you that his Excellency the President has in terms of Section 3(1) of the Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29:17) appointed Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni as substantive Chief Ndiweni with effect from 9 June 2014. Kindly inform the incumbent and commence the payment of his allowances.”
Another letter was written by Ms Dlamini to Ms Ennety Sithole, the District Administrator for Umguza, appraising her of the latest development and further ordering her to ensure Chief Ndiweni starts getting his allowances.
Nhlanhlayamangwe said the family which saw it fit for him to be the chief is busy preparing for a bash which will attract scores of people.
“In our last meeting we agreed that the celebrations will be held on 31 January next year. The date might only change depending on the availability of Government officials. I said it before that my letter of appointment is being kept in other departments. It will be a strange thing that the Government of Zimbabwe can pay someone to be a traditional leader, who is not a traditional leader. Would you get paid when you are not employed? Who gets paid in such a situation?”
Repeated efforts to get a comment from the Minister of Rural Development, Preservation of Culture and Heritage Cde Abednico Ncube were fruitless as his mobile number was not reachable.
Ms Dlamini claimed she was yet to be appraised of the matter and could not be drawn to comment on the appointment of Nhlanhlayamangwe as substantive Chief Ndiweni.
“I am not at work today and I am also not in the picture of what you are talking about. Perhaps the celebration is a family issue which does not involve the Government,” she said last week.
