Court to make determination on Ndiweni chieftainship wrangle Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni
Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni

Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni

Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Political Reporter
GOVERNMENT will stand guided by the outcome of the court case regarding a dispute over the Ndiweni chieftainship, an official has said.
The late Chief Kayisa Ndiweni’s eldest son Joram recently filed a High Court application seeking the reversal of a government decision to appoint his younger brother Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Kayisa as substantive chief.
Joram, the eldest brother, argued that he was next in the line of succession following the death of their father in 2010.

Last week, Joram also filed an urgent chamber application to stop last Friday’s installation ceremony, but the court did not give a verdict as the Ndiweni family said they were only celebrating Felix’s appointment as opposed to Joram’s claims that his sibling was being installed.

Yesterday, Matabeleland North provincial administrator Lathiso Dlamini said they will abide by the court’s decision.
“The position of government is that we are waiting for the family to give us a name after they solve the dispute. They are siblings,” said Dlamini.

“Obviously when it is a court case, we will wait for the conclusion of the matter, anything done before that would be in contempt of court.”
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo, in a telephone interview from China, said he was not aware of Friday’s event.

“I am not even aware of that. I’m in China and I’ll come back in 10 days. You can check with the local offices,” he said.
According to a statement by the family, the High Court last Thursday gave the green light for the Ndiwenis to hold the ceremony as they insisted they were not installing the chief.

The family explained that anointing a chief was a traditional ceremony to recognise a traditional leader, which is different from an installation that is presided over by a government official.

The family said of the late chief’s sons, Joram is the eldest followed by Nhlanhlayamangwe then Douglas and lastly Ian Zulu Ndiweni.
Joram and Douglas – who lives a few metres from where the ceremony was held and Ian, did not attend the function but the rest of the siblings were in attendance.

Wilson Bancinyane Ndiweni told Chronicle the family was waiting for government to provide them with a date to install a new chief.
Joram, who is based in the United Kingdom, filed an urgent application at the High Court seeking an order stopping the installation pending determination by the courts on the main matter on who should be substantive chief.

Nhlanhlayamangwe has, through his lawyer, Stephen Collier of Webb Low and Barry, entered an appearance to defend the action by his brother to block him from taking over the reins.

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