adminLeonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A LAWYER representing the late Chief Mvuthu’s daughter Silibaziso Mlotshwa (23) who is involved in a chieftainship wrangle with her uncle Mr Saunders Mlotshwa has threatened to sue Hwange District Administrator for allegedly participating in a meeting deemed to be illegal.
The threat of a lawsuit follows a meeting conducted at the late chief’s homestead last week on Thursday where Mr Mlotshwa was re-nominated as the chief at a time when the dispute is yet to be concluded before the courts.
Present at the alleged meeting were Mlotshwa family members, Chief Gampu of Tsholotsho who chaired proceedings, Chief’s Sikhobokhobo of Nkayi, Sikalenge of Binga, Whange and acting Chief Mvuthu, Bishop Matata Sibanda, among others.
Mr Thulani Ndlovu of Sansole and Senda, who is Silibaziso’s lawyer, said his client didn’t agree that her uncle should be the chief, contrary to claims that she had done so.
This is despite the fact that Silibaziso attended the meeting and allegedly didn’t challenge him.
Mr Ndlovu accused Mr Simon Muleya, the DA for Hwange, of contempt of court by showing disdain and unparalleled disrespect of the High Court.
“We refer to the above matter and represent Silibaziso Mlotshwa our client, who advises that you the DA convened a meeting at Chief Mvuthu’s homestead on 23 March where you proceeded to chair the same and Saunders Mlotshwa was re-nominated as the next chief,” said Mr Ndlovu in the summons.
“We kindly remind you that there is a court interdict granted by Honourable Justice Maxwell Takuva that interdicted your office from convening the same and forwarding the name of Saunders Mlotshwa as substantive/designate chief pending finalisation of this matter.”
Last year, Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Takuva granted a provisional order prohibiting the DA (then Mr Tapera Mugoriya) from installing a substantive Chief Mvuthu until the chieftainship dispute had been finalised in court.
This was after Silibaziso in 2015 sued the DA and her uncle for disqualifying her from succeeding her father, Nyangayezizwe Mlotshwa, who died on March 10 in 2014 on grounds that she was a woman.
Mr Ndlovu said the DA has three days to respond to the summons and to write to all parties who were present at the meeting telling them that the purported re-nomination of Mr Mlotshwa was null and void.
Last Friday, Mr Muleya, the DA, refused to comment about the meeting saying it was premature for him to do so. “It’s still prejudicial to talk about that now,” he said.
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