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Minister seeks M’mbelwa intervention in chieftainship wrangle

 

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa has asked Paramount Chief M’mbelwa V of Mzimba to help resolve a Zulu chieftainship wrangle in Mchinji.

The minister made the request at Mponela 2 Primary School in Dowa on Sunday when he installed Isaac Brighton Chakhadza Jere as Traditional Authority (T/A) Mponela.

He said the Ngoni chieftainship succession has straight-forward procedures and wondered why sometimes some people find it difficult to respect what their culture dictates.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa

“If there is a culture that makes us proud when it comes to chieftainship succession, it is the Ngoni. They follow clear procedures on succession and we have had very few cases where there have been problems.

“But I would like to ask you Inkosi Mabilabo, who has represented Chief M’mbelwa to take this message to him, that he should help resolve the Zulu chieftainship wrangle in Mchinji,” Nankhumwa said.

He advised the newly elevated chief to be exemplary in his conduct and treat his subjects fairly.

Nankhumwa called on the new chief to avoid getting involved in corrupt practices, warning that government will not tolerate such behaviour.

In his remarks, Inkosi Msakambewa thanked government for respecting cultural requirements when installing and promoting traditional leaders.

He bemoaned incidents where some people want to become chiefs although they are not entitled, saying the behaviour was delaying development as chiefs are supposed to spearhead development in their areas.

Inkosi Mabulabo asked people to respect the new chief, saying in the Ngoni culture, the first born son succeeds his father and that is what had been followed in the choice of Mponela.

Isaac Brighton Chakhaza Jere who becomes the sixth Traditional Authority Mponela, descended from Gwaza Jere who came to Malawi from South Africa through Tanzania under Zwangendawa and settled in Dowa.

Gwaza Jere is now called Msakambewa, according to one of the family members Bernard Kwambela. n

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