Ndiweni chieftainship row deepens

A fresh dispute has erupted over the Ndiweni chieftainship after the government appointed Wishes Ndiweni as Acting Chief Ndiweni, a move that has been rejected by a rival faction backing Dumisani Douglas Ndiweni as the rightful successor.

The latest development has intensified a succession battle that has divided the Ndiweni royal family for years, with rival groups relying on customary law, family lineage and the Traditional Leaders Act to support their competing claims.

The Ministry of Local Government recently informed district authorities that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had, in terms of Section 4(1) of the Traditional Leaders Act [Chapter 29:17], appointed Wishes Ndiweni as Acting Chief for Ntabazinduna District with effect from June 22.

According to the ministry, Wishes Ndiweni was due to be formally presented to the Ntabazinduna community on July 8 at the Ndiweni homestead during a ceremony expected to be attended by government officials and Zanu PF leaders.

However, supporters of Douglas Ndiweni have dismissed the appointment, arguing that it was made without following established customary procedures or consulting all branches of the royal family.

Family spokesperson Stanley Madlala Dube, speaking alongside Gordon Ngwenya, accused the Ministry of Local Government of excluding key customary authorities from the process.

The Tshagwanyama, Mhwabiyana and Mbayiw clans, which traditionally install the Ndiweni chief, say they should have been consulted before any acting appointment was made.

According to Dube, officials from the Ministry of Local Government, led by Acting Umguza District Development Coordinator G.T. Mukondo and accompanied by selected traditional leaders from Matabeleland North, visited the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni's homestead before identifying Wishes Ndiweni as Acting Chief.

The Douglas Ndiweni faction alleges that the process was influenced by Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni, who currently resides in the United Kingdom.

"The installers and the Royal College were completely left out of the process. We believe the procedure was irregular and are appealing to government to revisit the matter before the appointment becomes entrenched," Dube said.

The group argues that Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni no longer has the legal or customary authority to recommend an acting chief, maintaining that he ceased to hold office following his removal as substantive chief.

They further claim that despite repeatedly communicating their position to the Ministry of Local Government and providing contact details, they were never invited to participate in consultations. Instead, they say government should have convened all interested parties at a neutral venue before making a decision.

The faction also disputes Wishes Ndiweni's eligibility, arguing that he does not belong to what they describe as the recognised line of succession within the Ndiweni family.

Instead, they insist that Douglas Ndiweni, the youngest son of the late Chief Khayisa Ndiweni and Agnes Masuku Ndiweni, is the legitimate heir to the throne.

Supporters describe Douglas as having been born and raised in Ntabazinduna, with a thorough understanding of the area's customs and traditions, and say he is ready to assume the substantive chieftainship.

They also allege that traditional cleansing ceremonies following the death of Chief Khayisa Ndiweni have not yet been completed and claim Douglas has been prevented from accessing his late father's homestead.

To resolve the impasse, the faction is calling on government to establish an independent commission of inquiry or appoint neutral traditional experts to examine the competing claims.

They argue that such a process should investigate the Ndiweni family lineage, customary practices and submissions from all interested parties before making recommendations to President Mnangagwa, who they believe has the constitutional authority to make a final determination if the dispute remains unresolved.

The Douglas Ndiweni camp also maintains that the substantive chieftainship has been vacant since August 2019 and says government should prioritise appointing a permanent chief rather than maintaining an acting arrangement.

Meanwhile, supporters of Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni reject that position, insisting he remains the legitimate substantive Chief Ndiweni despite residing in the United Kingdom.

Earlier this year, members of that faction informed the Umguza District Development Coordinator that Wishes Ndiweni had been appointed solely to oversee the administration of the community until Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni returns to Zimbabwe, stressing that the acting appointment is temporary and does not amount to a succession process.

The dispute over the Ndiweni chieftainship dates back to the death of Chief Khayisa Ndiweni in 2010.

Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni was installed by part of the royal family and received government recognition in 2014, but his appointment has continued to be challenged by some relatives, including his younger brother, Douglas.

The dispute escalated in 2019 after the government announced Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni's removal from office following his criminal conviction. He subsequently challenged the decision in court, arguing that he had been denied due process.