Court stops Inkosi M’mbelwa from grooming heir

The High Court in Blantyre has stopped Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa 1V from appointing and installing Mulonyeni Jere as Inkosi Mzukuzuku V.

The court order came after the family sought an injunction on October 1 2012.

“It is ordered that an order of interlocutory injunction be and is hereby granted: a] restraining the 1st and 2nd defendants [Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa 1V, Mulonyeni Jere, their employees or agents from appointing, nominating or installing the 2nd defendant or any person or being installed to chieftaincy as Inkosi Mzukuzuku, b] restraining the defendants from performing any functions as Inkosi Mzukuzuku or calling the 2nd defendant or by himself as such,” reads the injunction dated October 1 2012.

The injunction was taken by Isaac Jere who argues in his affidavit that he is the eldest living biological son of the late Inkosi Mzukuzuku 1V who died on March 23 2002. This is under miscellaneous civil cause number 124 of 2012.

Jere blasts M’mbelwa for acting immorally and unjustly by grooming Mulonyeni Jere as heir to the throne, saying it is against the Ngoni culture because Jere is not a biological son.

Argues Isaac Jere: “To my surprise, I have noticed that the 1st defendant, Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa 1V has or is grooming the 2nd defendant herein to succeed my late father which is contrary to the Ngoni tradition, justice and morality. The Ngoni tradition does not allow a non-biological son to succeed the late chief when the late chief’s biological children are existing, as this would be repugnant to justice and morality.”

He further argues: “The 1st defendant [M’mbelwa] has deliberately ignored the clear provisions of the Chiefs Act in failing to appreciate that my late father Inkosi Mzukuzuku 1V was recognised under Section 27 (1) of the Chiefs Act.”