The long-standing swirl of dust over the royal Gomani family of Ntcheu is stubbornly refusing to settle after Rosemary Malinki’s remarks at the official installation of Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V last Sunday touched raw nerves.
Malinki courted controversy when she said women can also rule the Maseko Ngoni. She also said a bastard cannot rule the clan and that former monarch Namlangeni reigned over real men, “not the fake men of today.”
Both statements were pointing at the squabbles that have surrounded the Gomani chieftaincy.
Dingiswayo Gomani, spokesperson of the Gomani royal family, said in a media statement published on Friday that the remarks reek greed and disrespect.
“…her speech demeaned the male members of the Maseko Ngoni, which is unacceptable,” reads the statement.
Apart from stripping her of the position of regent, the family also wants Malinki to apologise for the remarks.
In an interview Dingiswayo Gomani said a woman cannot be ngoni chief.
“Since time immemorial, a Gomani king has never been a woman and cannot be. And to say that a bastard cannot rule is wrong because a child born out of wedlock is still a product of that king’s seed and if there is no heir apparent, he can rule,” he said.
But Malinki on Saturday said she will not apologise unless the issues came through the Inkosi Gomani.
She defended her comments, saying women can rule among the Maseko Ngoni.
Malinki said when she spoke about ‘fake men,’ she was comparing men in peace time with warriors in battle and did not refer at the function.
“If there are family issues, we should not rush to the media because we may end up being embarrassed. I never said a ‘bastard’ cannot rule. I said a child born of an unsanctioned marriage, a marriage without the blessings of kinsmen,” she said.
On being dropped as regent, she said only the Inkosi can appoint and dethrone regents.
After removing Malinki as regent, the family announced that the young Makhosi Gomani V will be aided by the Gomani Royal Council to allow the 17-year-old king to continue his studies at Kamuzu Academy.
