News / National
Obert Mpofu, chief tiff gets uglier
06 Sep 2017 at 13:33hrs | Views
RELATIONS between Macro-Economic Planning minister and MP for Umguza Obert Mpofu and Ntabazinduna chief Nhlanhlayemangwe Ndiweni have become so strained that they have now attracted the attention of both President Robert Mugabe and his two deputies.
Ndiweni, apart from claiming that he has brought the tiff to the attentions of Mugabe, vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, has threatened to puncture Mpofu's bid to retain his seat in next year's elections.
Mpofu has refused to recognise Ndiweni's chieftaincy.
In the latest clash, Ndiweni accuses Mpofu of influencing his arrest, together with 26 of his subjects over a controversial traditional court ruling.
"I flew to Harare recently where I hand-delivered the letter to the president and I also did the same to the two vice presidents where I was highlighting all those issues. I did that because I didn't want him to mislead the president," he said.
"Mpofu needs to be sat down. He is reflecting a bad image of the government and the party. He is making his party and government lose huge amounts of support by his conduct.
"I didn't mince my words. I said if no one is willing to sit Mpofu down, I will do everything in my power to make sure that people don't support him," declared Ndiweni.
Efforts to get Mpofu's comment were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Ndiweni claimed Mpofu had a hand in the recent incidents in his community where alleged Zanu-PF thugs besieged his homestead in protest over the traditional court ruling.
He recently ruled that one Fetti Mbeli's wife, Nonkangelo Mpengesi, who was allegedly caught red-handed with another man from the same village, be sent back to her people.
This was after Mbeli approached Ndiweni's court seeking justice in the matter.
The traditional court found Mpengesi's lover guilty and fined him two beasts or $500.
Ndiweni went on banish to Mbeli and his wife from the area after they allegedly defied his order.
He alleged that was influencing the incidents.
"He made a political blunder as a politician. You should not support causes that people don't like.
"As in this case, I view him as supporting prostitution, it doesn't matter how many court cases are made up or fabricated against me.
"I will never on principle, moral and religious grounds support prostitution," said Ndiweni.
Ndiweni a few years ago relocated to Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom to take over the chieftainship following the death of his father, chief Khaisa Ndiweni.
He claimed that the people in Umguza were so fed up with Mpofu that if he were to contest against a donkey, it would win the election.
"... even if someone was going to present a donkey, the donkey would win against Mpofu.
"I say that with 100 percent conviction because I know what is on the ground.
"People are not happy, they are just waiting for a candidate from the people.
"...definitely in Ntabazinduna he will not get the vote. The more he continues in this manner, the more votes he will lose.
"Mpofu's character has let us down. He has failed the people of Ntabazinduna and Umguza.
"There is absolutely nothing that he has done for the people. We need to change him. That is the message that I will be telling my people in whatever forum, that he must go," said Ndiweni.
The traditional leader said Mpofu was not necessarily fighting him, but the Ndiweni family.
"He is not fighting me as an individual but the family. I am just caught up in the cross fire. Remember my late father Khaisa, he is the one who made Mpofu what he is today.
"But before he died, he told him that he had failed to lead the constituency hence, he needed to hand over to other capable leaders, but that didn't go down well with Mpofu, who up to today, has a bone to chew with us," said Ndiweni.
Mpofu is on record for not recognising Ndiweni.
"I don't know this guy. I have nothing to do with him. Legally, he is not a chief.
"He is just masquerading as a chief using opposition politics.
"He should not blame us for his misdeeds. He has been out of the country for over 40 years and he came yesterday and wants to behave in a destructive and anti-people manner.
"If he wants me to get involved, I will be involved. Once I get involved he will regret doing whatever he is doing. I don't do cheap politics like him," Mpofu once said of Ndiweni.
Meanwhile, Ndiweni's lawyer, Dumisani Dube confirmed to Daily News that were moves to prosecute Ndiweni and villagers involved the case of Mbeli and his wife.
Dube also said that Mpofu had also hired lawyer Byron Sengweni to assist the State in prosecuting Ndiweni.
"We are seized with the matter, as minister Mpofu and (police commissioner-general Augustine) Chihuri have since ordered that the chief be prosecuted and as a result, they have engaged . . . Sengweni to assist the State in that regard," Dube said.
Dube, however, said they were still convinced that the chief and villagers were following superior orders of the traditional court and therefore should not be charged.
"As for the chief, he was acting in his judicial role as provided for by Traditional Leaders Act and within the purview of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and any party disgruntled with the court order should appeal to superior courts or make an application for review at a higher court (not to) criminalise or politicise a traditional legal process," Dube said.
Ndiweni, apart from claiming that he has brought the tiff to the attentions of Mugabe, vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, has threatened to puncture Mpofu's bid to retain his seat in next year's elections.
Mpofu has refused to recognise Ndiweni's chieftaincy.
In the latest clash, Ndiweni accuses Mpofu of influencing his arrest, together with 26 of his subjects over a controversial traditional court ruling.
"I flew to Harare recently where I hand-delivered the letter to the president and I also did the same to the two vice presidents where I was highlighting all those issues. I did that because I didn't want him to mislead the president," he said.
"Mpofu needs to be sat down. He is reflecting a bad image of the government and the party. He is making his party and government lose huge amounts of support by his conduct.
"I didn't mince my words. I said if no one is willing to sit Mpofu down, I will do everything in my power to make sure that people don't support him," declared Ndiweni.
Efforts to get Mpofu's comment were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered.
Ndiweni claimed Mpofu had a hand in the recent incidents in his community where alleged Zanu-PF thugs besieged his homestead in protest over the traditional court ruling.
He recently ruled that one Fetti Mbeli's wife, Nonkangelo Mpengesi, who was allegedly caught red-handed with another man from the same village, be sent back to her people.
This was after Mbeli approached Ndiweni's court seeking justice in the matter.
The traditional court found Mpengesi's lover guilty and fined him two beasts or $500.
Ndiweni went on banish to Mbeli and his wife from the area after they allegedly defied his order.
He alleged that was influencing the incidents.
"He made a political blunder as a politician. You should not support causes that people don't like.
"As in this case, I view him as supporting prostitution, it doesn't matter how many court cases are made up or fabricated against me.
"I will never on principle, moral and religious grounds support prostitution," said Ndiweni.
Ndiweni a few years ago relocated to Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom to take over the chieftainship following the death of his father, chief Khaisa Ndiweni.
He claimed that the people in Umguza were so fed up with Mpofu that if he were to contest against a donkey, it would win the election.
"I say that with 100 percent conviction because I know what is on the ground.
"People are not happy, they are just waiting for a candidate from the people.
"...definitely in Ntabazinduna he will not get the vote. The more he continues in this manner, the more votes he will lose.
"Mpofu's character has let us down. He has failed the people of Ntabazinduna and Umguza.
"There is absolutely nothing that he has done for the people. We need to change him. That is the message that I will be telling my people in whatever forum, that he must go," said Ndiweni.
The traditional leader said Mpofu was not necessarily fighting him, but the Ndiweni family.
"He is not fighting me as an individual but the family. I am just caught up in the cross fire. Remember my late father Khaisa, he is the one who made Mpofu what he is today.
"But before he died, he told him that he had failed to lead the constituency hence, he needed to hand over to other capable leaders, but that didn't go down well with Mpofu, who up to today, has a bone to chew with us," said Ndiweni.
Mpofu is on record for not recognising Ndiweni.
"I don't know this guy. I have nothing to do with him. Legally, he is not a chief.
"He is just masquerading as a chief using opposition politics.
"He should not blame us for his misdeeds. He has been out of the country for over 40 years and he came yesterday and wants to behave in a destructive and anti-people manner.
"If he wants me to get involved, I will be involved. Once I get involved he will regret doing whatever he is doing. I don't do cheap politics like him," Mpofu once said of Ndiweni.
Meanwhile, Ndiweni's lawyer, Dumisani Dube confirmed to Daily News that were moves to prosecute Ndiweni and villagers involved the case of Mbeli and his wife.
Dube also said that Mpofu had also hired lawyer Byron Sengweni to assist the State in prosecuting Ndiweni.
"We are seized with the matter, as minister Mpofu and (police commissioner-general Augustine) Chihuri have since ordered that the chief be prosecuted and as a result, they have engaged . . . Sengweni to assist the State in that regard," Dube said.
Dube, however, said they were still convinced that the chief and villagers were following superior orders of the traditional court and therefore should not be charged.
"As for the chief, he was acting in his judicial role as provided for by Traditional Leaders Act and within the purview of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and any party disgruntled with the court order should appeal to superior courts or make an application for review at a higher court (not to) criminalise or politicise a traditional legal process," Dube said.
Source - dailynews
