….amid Ndiweni Clans’ council of elders insisting he is the rightful heir to the throne.
By Lloyd Takawira
Government is headed for a showdown with the Ndiweni Clan following its decision to dethrone Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni as the substantive Chief Ndiweni .
In a letter addressed to the Matebeleland North Provincial Chiefs council , government through the Ministry of Local government has removed with immediate effect Felix Nhlanhlayamagwe Ndiweni as substantive chief.
The development comes barely a week after the Ndiweni clan of elders tasked with the selection of the clans heir apparents had insisted that Felix was the rightful heir.
However, government has moved swiftly to dethrone Felix Ndiweni .
“IN LINE WITH PROVISIONS OF SECTION 283 (II) OF THE CONSTITUTION AND SUBSECTION 2(A) OF SECTION 3 OF THE TRADITIONAL LEADERS ACT CHAPTER 29:17 REMOVED CHIEF NDIWENI FROM OFFICE OF THE CHIEF NDIWENI IN UMGUZA DISTRICT OF MATABELELAND NORTH WITH EFFECT FROM NOVEMBER 30, 2019,” READ THE LETTER THAT WAS ALSO UNDERSIGNED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER, PRESIDENT OF CHIEFS’ COUNCIL AND DIRECTOR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION” reads the letter
The government also directed that Matebeleland Provincial Assembly of Chiefs officially communicate with Chief Ndiweni, as well as stop payment of his allowance, confiscate his government vehicle and all his chief regalia.
“Cause the DDC for Umguza to recover the government allocated vehicle, all chiefs regalia and any other state asset in his custody with the assistance of the ZRP if need be,” read the letter
However , the Ntabazandinua community, Ndiweni Elders and Inkosi’s Advisory Counsel, Village Headmen and Faith Groups have since issued a chilling statement defending the appointment of Felix Nhlanhlayamngwe as the substantive chief.
“It is completely illogical for one to think the matter of the succession in the Ndiweni Clan of Ntabazinduna, would be left to chance. No one is in office for 71 years and then does not complete the most important responsibility they have, which is their succession. The bloodline. For this is the only job in the world, whereby one qualifies by their bloodline,” said one community elder.
“We can no longer keep quiet, whilst falsehoods are being spoken as if they were the truth. At the heart of this matter is a political agenda, which we will never accept, irrespective from whatever quarter it comes from and in this regard, we have the support of the nation,” said the community.
“Political corruption has invaded many institutions in our country. With regret, the institution of Traditional Leaders is no exception to this. It is for this reason that we Ndiweni Elders, Elders in the community, faith groups and the community of Ntabazinduna have taken an unprecedented step to speak for our Royal House, the Ndiweni Clan of Ntabazinduna.
“The open political challenge to our Royal House, emanating from Douglas Ndiweni, Obert Mpofu, the local Zanu PF and The Matabeleland North Chiefs Assembly, must be exposed and nullified once and for all ”
“Inkosi Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has taken our advice, not to directly get involved in this ugly matter that seeks only to tarnish the honourable legacy of the late Paramount Chief K. Ndiweni. We advised him that custom and tradition, does not allow him to have a direct voice, with regard to the throne. Elders of the Clan will speak on his behalf. Hence, no one has ever heard him speak about this matter,” they said, nothing that such as his late father, Chief Khayisa, Chief Ndiweni represented the communities and spoke the truth.
“He fights tooth and nail for all peoples, vulnerable people, irrespective from where they come from, for the voiceless, for the downtrodden, for the frail and for the helpless. He is a strong believer in the principles of democracy and good governance.”
The Ntabazinduna community said because of Chief Ndiweni’s boldness and principles, he had crafted out a new identity for Chiefs, that is supposed to be emulated by all.
