News / Regional
Families fight over Mangwe chieftaincy
20 Apr 2014 at 09:10hrs | Views
A CHIEFTAINSHIP wrangle has erupted in Mangwe District with two families claiming the Hobodo chieftaincy.
Family members have been at each other's throats since the death of the last chief, Mr Simon Tela Ncube who died at the age of 80 in December last year.
Mr Simon Tela Ncube's first born son, Mr Adolph Ncube was supposed to be appointed chief in February but his uncles and cousins interjected and declared themselves to be the rightful heirs of the throne.
Mangwe district administrator Ms Felicity Gangada had to cancel the appointment of a new chief until the dispute is resolved.
Mr Ncube said his cousins and uncles wanted to selfishly disturb the hereditary system.
"My uncles and cousin brothers are now claiming the chieftaincy which has been within our family line for over 60 years. My grandfather became chief in 1950 after the death of my great grandfather and then my father who died last year took over from him and I am supposed to become the next chief but my relatives are disputing this. I was supposed to be appointed in February but the DA told me that another person should be appointed in my place. All the headmen from the area agreed that I would be the next chief and they submitted my name to the DA's office," he said.
Mr Ncube said his cousins alleged that his grandfather was not supposed to have been appointed chief in the 1950s.
"My grandfather had an elder brother, Matsambani Malaba, who was supposed to become chief but he died before my great grandfather who was the chief at the time he died. Therefore my grandfather who was the younger one became chief instead of his brother and that is how the chieftaincy came to our family.
"Now the grandsons of Matsambani and his sons are saying that they want the chieftainship to come back to their family and that they will not allow me to become the new chief. Well, I will not be allowing them to take the chieftainship away from me," said Mr Ncube.
"Efforts to reach a consensus have been made but to no success. As far as I am concerned the chieftaincy is now in our family and we have a legal right to it."
A representative from the other family eyeing the chieftainship, Mr Giyani Matsambani, said his family was claiming the throne which rightfully belonged to them.
"The Ncube family was merely holding the dock on our behalf temporarily. It is unfortunate that our grandfather died before he could be appointed chief but we want things to go back to their original state.
"We want to correct what went wrong 60 years ago. Ncube is assuming that we want the chieftaincy so we can enjoy the benefits which come with the position but in actual fact we are claiming our birth right," said Mr Matsambani.
"The Ncube family is aware that the chief should come from our lineage and we will not back down until they return the throne to us. I just wonder why they want to be difficult on such a straight forward issue."
A source said the district administrator's office had advised the two families to resolve the dispute on their own and agree on the person to become chief.
Family members have been at each other's throats since the death of the last chief, Mr Simon Tela Ncube who died at the age of 80 in December last year.
Mr Simon Tela Ncube's first born son, Mr Adolph Ncube was supposed to be appointed chief in February but his uncles and cousins interjected and declared themselves to be the rightful heirs of the throne.
Mangwe district administrator Ms Felicity Gangada had to cancel the appointment of a new chief until the dispute is resolved.
Mr Ncube said his cousins and uncles wanted to selfishly disturb the hereditary system.
"My uncles and cousin brothers are now claiming the chieftaincy which has been within our family line for over 60 years. My grandfather became chief in 1950 after the death of my great grandfather and then my father who died last year took over from him and I am supposed to become the next chief but my relatives are disputing this. I was supposed to be appointed in February but the DA told me that another person should be appointed in my place. All the headmen from the area agreed that I would be the next chief and they submitted my name to the DA's office," he said.
Mr Ncube said his cousins alleged that his grandfather was not supposed to have been appointed chief in the 1950s.
"My grandfather had an elder brother, Matsambani Malaba, who was supposed to become chief but he died before my great grandfather who was the chief at the time he died. Therefore my grandfather who was the younger one became chief instead of his brother and that is how the chieftaincy came to our family.
"Now the grandsons of Matsambani and his sons are saying that they want the chieftainship to come back to their family and that they will not allow me to become the new chief. Well, I will not be allowing them to take the chieftainship away from me," said Mr Ncube.
"Efforts to reach a consensus have been made but to no success. As far as I am concerned the chieftaincy is now in our family and we have a legal right to it."
A representative from the other family eyeing the chieftainship, Mr Giyani Matsambani, said his family was claiming the throne which rightfully belonged to them.
"The Ncube family was merely holding the dock on our behalf temporarily. It is unfortunate that our grandfather died before he could be appointed chief but we want things to go back to their original state.
"We want to correct what went wrong 60 years ago. Ncube is assuming that we want the chieftaincy so we can enjoy the benefits which come with the position but in actual fact we are claiming our birth right," said Mr Matsambani.
"The Ncube family is aware that the chief should come from our lineage and we will not back down until they return the throne to us. I just wonder why they want to be difficult on such a straight forward issue."
A source said the district administrator's office had advised the two families to resolve the dispute on their own and agree on the person to become chief.
Source - Sunday News
