National News

Wrangle over Bvumbwe chieftaincy

His family accused of grabbing the chieftaincy: Bvumbwe
His family accused of grabbing the chieftaincy: Bvumbwe

Controversy continues to chase Traditional Authority (T/A) Bvumbwe of Thyolo after a family has accused his clan of robbing them of the chieftaincy.

The Mphedzu family of the area has sought the intervention President Joyce Banda to redress what they believe is great injustice.

Village head Mphedzu told Nation on Sunday on Friday that he was the first man to settle at Mikolongwe, headquarters of T/A Bvumbwe.

Mphedzu claimed that the Bvumbwe clan stole the chieftainship from his people after migrating to the area from South Africa.

He said when the Bvumbwes came to the area, his family gave them land where they settled.

According to the village head, a member of the Bvumbwe clan was later appointed a chief’s councillor.

“When white people came in the area looking for land, Bvumbwe would go to them to collect chickens which they gave to the chief as per tradition. But instead of delivering the chickens to the chief, he would keep them for himself.

“That is how the Bvumbwe clan began assuming the chieftaincy,” claimed Mphedzu, 78.

Mphedzu: My clan was the first to settle in the area
Mphedzu: My clan was the first to settle in the area

He said from 1974 his grandfather began lodging formal complaints to the MCP government through the district commissioner (DC) and other traditional leaders.

According to Mphedzu, the MCP government did not resolve the matter. He said in 2001 the case was reported to former president Bakili Muluzi.

In a letter dated June 26 2001, the late Paramount Chief Lundu of Chikhwawa asked Muluzi to help his great grandson, Mphedzu, whom he described as a true Mang’anja, to reclaim his chieftaincy.

The letter was signed by T/A Changata of Thyolo, Senior Chief Mabuka and T/A Nazombe of Mulanje.

On December 1 2009, Lundu wrote another letter to Minister of Local Government and Rural Development which was copied to Thyolo DC, acting Paramount Chief Gomani, T/A Bvumbwe and other chiefs.

The letter was signed by eight other chiefs such as Senior Chief Chapananga of Chikhwawa, T/As Nsabwe and Thomas of Thyolo.

In Friday’s interview, Mphedzu said he wrote President Banda in 2012 to resolve the matter.

“I suspect that some people are sitting on the issue. Mphedzu is the legitimate clan for chieftaincy,” he said.

Paramount Chief Lundu confirmed yesterday that the case was reported to the President.

“We reported the case to Dr Joyce Banda last year and I am expecting to meet her any day since she is busy with other duties,” he said.

Bvumbwe, who was installed in 2001 after the death of his father, could not be reached for comment.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Local Government Maganizo Mazeze yesterday said he was not aware of the issue.

A few months ago, Bvumbwe came into the limelight after he rebuked President Banda and her People’s Party (PP) for distributing party T-shirts at the funeral of the late High Court judge Justice Joseph Mwanyungwa.

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