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NewsDay

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Chief Mabhikwa installation stalls again

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LUPANE — The installation of Chief Mabhikwa in Lupane, which had been pencilled for this month, has been postponed indefinitely amid reports some of the Khumalo family members feel they have been sidelined. The Local Government, Rural and Urban Development ministry intends to install Vusa Benjamin Khumalo (18), son of the late Chief Nicholas Khumalo […]

LUPANE — The installation of Chief Mabhikwa in Lupane, which had been pencilled for this month, has been postponed indefinitely amid reports some of the Khumalo family members feel they have been sidelined.

The Local Government, Rural and Urban Development ministry intends to install Vusa Benjamin Khumalo (18), son of the late Chief Nicholas Khumalo as the new chief.

The development has sparked divisions within the Khumalo clan and has stalled the installation of the Chief.

On Monday, Matabeleland North Provincial administrator Lathiso Dlamini said the installation, which was supposed to be conducted sometime this month, had been postponed due to logistical problems.

“The installation has been postponed to a date yet to be advised. Yes, it was supposed to be done this month, but some logistical issues caused the postponement,” said Dlamini without elaborating.

Initially, the installation was supposed to take place last December, but it was postponed for unclear reasons.

Some Khumalos were reportedly against the government and other family members’ plans to install Vusa as chief.

They claimed the last chief of the clan was not a legitimate Khumalo, hence the chieftainship must be returned to original leaders.

Some Khumalo elders said they wanted John Robert Khumalo (58) to be installed as chief instead of Vusa.

Yesterday another clan member, John Khumalo, said despite being a legitimate Khumalo, the installation of Chief Mabhikwa was being done behind his back and he knew nothing about it.

“I am a legitimate Khumalo, but I have no comment on this issue because things are being done behind my back. I do not have an idea about the installation,” he said.

The issue was said to have caused a serious rift within the Khumalo family.

Dlamini recently confirmed the government was preparing to install Vusa as chief by virtue of being son of the last late chief in the clan.

Dlamini said those who were disputing the installation of Vusa as chief had been overtaken by events because Ignatius Chombo (Local Government minister) set up a commission of inquiry to investigate the issue and it established Nicholas’ son should be installed as chief.