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THE LATE Ndebele paramount chief Khayisa Ndiweni may have been viewed by many as a controversial figure, but his son, Nhlanhla, has refused to be outdone.
Hardly a year after taking over from his father, Chief Nhlanhla Ndiweni has courted controversy by attempting to shut down the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services training depots in Ntabazinduna, on the outskirts of Bulawayo situated in the Matabeleland North province. Chief Ndiweni — whose ascendance to chieftaincy largely considered to be the nerve centre of traditional leadership in the Matabeleland region is also being challenged by his siblings who claim he is not the heir apparent.
In his quest to have the two depots closed, Chief Ndiweni has been circulating two petitions in his area of jurisdiction. The first petition is for the closure of the ZRP training depot to make way for a vocational training centre, while the second is for the expansion of Ntabazinduna on ZPCS land where the chief has already started allocating stands. If responsible authorities do not want the two depots to be closed, Chief Ndiweni has said, half of the recruits should be from Ntabazinduna.
Sunday News is in possession of copies of the petitions from Chief Ndiweni for his subjects to sign “in support of Inkosi’s petition for the expansion of Ntabazinduna communal lands and also for the vocational training centre, which is currently the ZRP training depot, to be re-opened”.
Defending his position, Chief Ndiweni said he was giving land to people who were living in crowded areas.
“I have people who are living in very bad conditions. How can we say this is acceptable? To me as the chief, that is totally unacceptable. Petitions are meant to seek support so that I speak with the voice of the people and the petitions have shown that people are overwhelmingly supporting me in my quest to get this land expanded. I have no difficulties facing whoever comes before me on the issue of land.
“The police are good and have been training people which has been good for the country. They have done well but this has, however, been extremely bad for Ntabazinduna. There are no sons and daughters of Ntabazinduna that are graduating. We want 50 percent of police officers graduating to be from Ntabazinduna and neighbouring areas. We want employees at depots, there is no need to go halfway across Zimbabwe to get someone to sweep the floor or to push wheelbarrows.
“If people had not signed this petition, officials were not going to listen to me. If ZRP say there is nothing to change, the chief will also not change on his position to have the depot closed. I am just giving you a warning. I will not let this thing go. I know there are detractors who will come and try to stop me but I will not step back or be swayed.
Whether you like it or not, Chief Ndiweni is not going to let this thing go. People must understand that Ndiweni will not let these issues go. This land has been barren and that is an error that needs to be ratified.”
District Administrator for Umguza Ms Enetty Sithole said Government was investigating the matter.
“We have received the complaint concerning Chief Ndiweni. The investigation team has been set up but it is waiting for funds from the ministry to complete this task,” she said.
However, a senior official in the Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development revealed that a decision to recall Chief Ndiweni has already been made. Ward six councillor Alexandra Mnkandla castigated the radical actions which the chief was taking. He said such actions create confusion and divisions in the ward and the district at large.
“Petitions are circulating and village heads who were tasked by the chief to let people sign the petitions are even failing to explain to people what those petitions are for. The demands which are being made don’t make logical sense. The land which they want to take is for Ntabazinduna Township and that cannot be a communal land,” said Clr Mnkandla.
A Ndiweni family member said Chief Ndiweni was overstepping his mandate as his late father did not have any problem with the training depots.
“Why is he so power hungry? We know very well that Jorum is the heir apparent but since the matter is still in the courts, he should not make outrageous demands. The late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni attended several pass-out parades and was happy to have the depot in his area. There are village heads that are being fired without the knowledge of the district administrator. Nhlanhla has divided the people of Ntabazinduna. Some are with Jorum while others are supporting him,” said a family member.
Some locals claim he is “out of touch” with local issues after spending years overseas. Chief Ndiweni (52) spent 28 years in England where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology. He also holds a degree in Computer Systems Technology, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management Studies and a Law degree, specialising in local government.
The Ndiweni chieftaincy wrangle spilled to the High Court after Chief Khayisa’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, Nhlanhla.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter