Victory for the Khumalo family: High Court restores removes Zanele Khumalo as Regent Chief

In a dramatic and long-awaited turn of events, the Bulawayo High Court today handed the Khumalo family a powerful victory in their fight against what they have long described as a government-engineered anomaly in the Mabhikwa chieftainship succession. After months of tension, uncertainty, and emotional strain, Justice Dube ruled in favour of John Mabhikwa Khumalo, who led a group of 32 Khumalo family members challenging the appointment of Zanele Khumalo as Regent Chief.

The ruling brings to an end a deeply painful chapter in the family's history - one marked by allegations of interference, sidelining of elders, and violation of longstanding customs that guide the leadership of the Mabhikwa people.

The dispute began after the death of Chief Vusumuzi Khumalo in 2022, when government authorities appointed Zanele Khumalo to act as regent on behalf of the late chief's young son, Wayne Makhosemvelo Khumalo, who was only nine years old at the time. The family immediately objected, insisting the appointment was made without due consultation, without respect for their internal processes, and in total disregard of the lineage system that has governed their chieftainship for generations.

Their grievances were formally captured under case number HCBC 217/25, involving the Minister of Local Government, the National Council of Chiefs, provincial chiefs, and other key officials. A letter from the Registrar - dated 5 November 2025 - had postponed the hearing due to the judge's indisposition, leaving the family in suspense as they waited for justice. 

Today, that justice arrived.

Justice Dube's ruling effectively nullifies the disputed appointment and restores the family's right to determine, through its own customs and processes, who should preside over the throne until the heir comes of age. The judgment underlines a simple but powerful truth: the authority to guide succession in traditional leadership rests first and foremost with the family, not with government administrators.

For the Khumalo family, the moment was overwhelming. Many had travelled from rural Lupane, some elderly and frail, to witness what they hoped would be the restoration of their dignity. When the ruling was delivered, quiet sighs of relief and muted smiles filled the gallery. After months of feeling unheard and overruled, their voices were finally validated.

A senior family member summed up the sentiment outside the courtroom. "Today the High Court corrected a wrong. They tried to impose someone on us, but our customs are clear. We are grateful that justice has recognised what our elders have always said."

Legal practitioners who followed the case say the ruling sends a strong message to government institutions that have, over the years, been accused of overstepping in chieftainship matters. By siding with the Khumalo family, the High Court has reaffirmed that customary law is not a ceremonial afterthought - it is a living system of governance with legal weight and cultural authority.

For young Wayne, the heir to the Mabhikwa throne, the ruling clears the path for him to one day inherit a position free from political disputes and administrative controversy. His future leadership will now be shaped under a regency chosen by the very people who carry his bloodline and understand the cultural weight of the role he will assume.

This case will be remembered not just as a victory for the Khumalo family, but as a reminder to the nation that traditional institutions must be treated with the respect they deserve. It is a reaffirmation that heritage, identity, and custom cannot be overridden by convenience or external pressure.

Today, in Court B at the Bulawayo High Court, justice aligned with culture - and a family's long, difficult wait finally ended in triumph.