'Kids are a distraction,' says Chief Ndiweni

MANY chiefs in Zimbabwe sire children who go on to inherit their thrones when they pass on. Those with no children have sleepless nights as they worry that when they die, relatives will fight over the vacated seats of power.

However, Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni, the son of the late maveric chief, Khayisa Ndiweni is proving to be a rare breed, as he revealed to Sunday Leisure that he has not sired a child, and declared that at the moment he harbours no ambition to be a father as children would prove to be a distraction.

The 52-year-old, who was residing in the United Kingdom since 1981, is married to Florence Sikhosana and revealed that he will never subject her to the trials and tribulations of a polygamous marriage like what happens in other chieftainships.

"I am married to Florence Sikhosana. We met in the UK at a New Year's Eve party 18 years ago. She is also from Ntabazinduna and we don't have children yet. Had I come to my position as chief with children left, right and centre, it would plunge the Ndiweni chieftainship into jeopardy and as children could fight for the chieftainship. Besides, Ndiweni people have never believed in polygamy," he said.

Chief Ndiweni said his wife is based in Saudi Arabia where she is a specialist nurse at a royal hospital. They see each other "from time to time".

Chief Ndiweni's ascendance to the throne was not without controversy as he was once locked in a bitter dispute with his elder brother, Joram, over the chieftainship. The damage that resulted from that wrangle is yet to be repaired.

"Relations with Joram are still sour and we are still licking our wounds. He is old enough to be my father and we will eventually patch up the differences that we have. I reckon in time it will heal up. The good thing is that we are far apart as he is based in the UK," he said.

The former Falcon College pupil said staying in the UK for long had changed him and it gave him a better understanding of the world.

"It is totally different there. There are no comparisons at all with Zimbabwe. I went to the United Kingdom in 1981 to live full-time and it was straight after my A-levels that I did at Falcon College. I knew that one day I would come back to Zimbabwe and it's not as if I was not prepared and the late chief had exposed me a great deal to the world and I was given a lot of advice.

"Fusion of culture changed me in a profound way. It made me look at my strengths and weaknesses and value the individual I am. Zimbabweans have often been accused of being culturally weak abroad," he said.

Chief Ndiweni has been described as snobbish by his detractors, but he says such criticism does not bring him down in anyway.

"I have broad shoulders and that is one thing the late chief taught me. I can say it only comes with being a chief and so far I have been here for too small a stint for people to call me a snob," he said.

During his stint in the United Kingdom, Chief Ndiweni studied engineering technology at diploma level, Mechanical Engineering at HND level, Degree in Management Studies specialising in local governance, and also attained a law degree.

Not even a single child, are you sure Chief?

"I have no children even outside my marriage, purely because when you know your destiny you have to be careful with what you do and always remind yourself who you want to be. I am leaving it for the Ndiweni clan," he said.