admin
TRADITIONAL leaders especially chiefs are regarded as true representatives of the people and custodians of culture in communities. However, for chiefs to earn the respect of their communities they should be accessible to their people, respected and legitimate. But of late the legitimacy of some chiefs has come under the spotlight because of squabbles that erupt over who takes over the chieftainship after the death of the incumbent. Such developments have watered down the importance of traditional leadership as in some cases the succession issue has been determined by the courts.
Only at the beginning of this month, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Obert Mpofu, speaking at the burial of Chief Ndondo of Mbembesi called on the Ndondo family not to ruin the late chief’s works by starting squabbles on who was going to take over the chieftainship, noting that according to tradition it was already known who was the rightful heir hence anyone who did not qualify was never going to make it to the helm.
However, a few weeks later squabbles over who takes over the reins from the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni were making headlines, a development that came as a disturbing incident especially with the way Khayisa Ndiweni was viewed by many in the country.
Chief Khayisa Ndiweni was a respected and revered traditional leader among his people, resulting in some people calling him the paramount chief of Matabeleland. Others also believed that the chieftaincy of the Khayisa Ndiweni family was the nerve centre of the traditional leadership in the region.
Chief Ndiweni died in his sleep during the early hours of 5 August in 2010 at the age of 97, three days after he had held his birthday party at his Ntabazinduna homestead, 30km outside Bulawayo.
It is not a secret that the legendary chief, a man who was wedded to his beliefs, was also viewed as a controversial figure and a maverick. At one point he also dabbled into politics as in the late 1970s he was part of the ill-fated Zimbabwe United People’s Organisation (Zupo) and later founded the Federal Party. He attended the 1979 Lancaster House Conference in London, a transitional period on the eve of the country’s Independence. After the attainment of majority rule, Chief Ndiweni continued to enjoy political sparring moments with the country’s politicians.
However, that did not take away the respect that he had throughout the country among traditional leaders, politicians, the business community as his name was held highly in many communities.
It is therefore a tragedy that his name is now dominating the headlines over his succession. His widow, Agnes has made startling revelations in the process drawing the ire of his two sons, we believe, Jorum and Douglas by convincing the Government to install her last born son, Nhlanhla as Chief Ndiweni. Mrs Ndiweni alleges that Jorum viewed as an heir apparent “will never make a chief that the people of Ntabazinduna deserve” because of “various other deeper stuff that make him not to be chief”. On Douglas Mrs Ndiweni said he “cannot be trusted, he is dishonest (and) a rabble-rouser”. Family members also allege that the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni chose Nhlanhla to be his successor.
While we cannot pin-point who is correct in the Ndiweni squabbles as some believe Mrs Ndiweni has overstepped her boundaries, we believe it is now embarrassing to see people fighting over the seat of chieftainship when there are laid down traditional rules that should be followed.
The fights over the chieftainship are a dangerous phenomenon that can divide communities and if the nation is not careful we will soon witness bloody wars.
The communities should also try to exhaust all channels in resolving issues to do with the succession of chiefs instead of rushing to the District Administrators’ offices.
The Government, although cannot be left out, it should be noted that it is there to preside over the installation ceremony not to choose chiefs.
However, we should also not dismiss concerns of family members when it comes to choosing chiefs because at times they know better the calibre of people that they are dealing with. Of late some chiefs have lost the respect of people because of misdemeanours in their communities.
Online Reporter