adminFairness Moyana Chronicle Correspondent
A STORM is brewing in the late chief Mvuthu’s family barely a week after his burial with his former wife accusing the family of seeking to block her son from taking over as the next chief. Chief Mvuthu, born Nyangayezizwe Mlotshwa died last week and was buried at his rural home in Monde area, Hwange, last Saturday.
His former wife, Florah Ncube alleges that some family members were sidelining her son, Thamsanqa, who she said was the first born to the chief.
Ncube said the chief had four children, not three as earlier reported.
She produced a birth certificate, a copy shown to the news crew proving the paternity of her son.
“I was surprised to hear that the chief left behind three children and I confronted Epiphania (the second wife) about it and she told me not to worry as it was just an error on the part of journalists who wrote the story,” said Ncube.
She said she got upset when the same message was repeated before the mourners even after officials from the district administrator’s office had asked for the names of all the children and Thamsanqa’s name was also recorded.
“I was shocked when it was announced during his burial that he had left behind three children, all girls. Thamsanqa who has been staying at his father’s homestead since completing his O Level, was thrown into confusion and hurt at the same time. He even failed to do the body viewing,” said Ncube.
According to Ncube some of relatives who included the late chief’s sisters whom she refused to name, were on a crusade to block her son’s rights to his father’s inheritance, which also included the chieftaincy.
Ncube said she met Chief Mvuthu 20 years ago while he was working at Calamas Store in Hwange. A month after falling in love, Ncube fell pregnant and traditional rites to advise the elders were set in motion.
She said it was during this time that she discovered that Mlotshwa had another girlfriend resulting in a misunderstanding.
“Our relationship hit the rocks following the discovery as he no longer saw the importance of fulfilling his obligations to my parents prompting me to report him to the village court.
“He was ordered to maintain his son since he no longer wanted to marry me,” said Ncube.
She said after their relationship turned sour she continued visiting the chief to do household chores such as washing his clothes. However, that was to be short lived as one day she found at his house in Madumabisa village, a heavily pregnant woman who later become his wife, Epiphania.
“When I met that woman I stopped going to his house and would only go to his workplace to get money for Thamsanqa’s upkeep. I moved on with my life though Mlotshwa would visit his son or sometimes during holidays he would go and live with them,” said Ncube.
The chief’s brother, Davidson confirmed Thamsanqa’s existence saying the issue was complicated.
He said the youthful lad was not formerly introduced to the family although he was staying with his father and would visit him time and again.
Said Davidson: “We have spoken to his mother (Flora) but the discussion was not conclusive.”
Epiphania could not be reached for comment.
Online Reporter