Installation of two chiefs on the cards

By Mvelo Mthiyane Zondo
GWANDA — As part of a government-led initiative to revitalise local leadership and address vacant posts, Gwanda district will soon welcome the installation of two new chiefs.
These appointments will fill the positions left by the late Chief Nhlamba and Chief Marupi, who passed away four and two years ago, respectively.
Gwanda District Development Coordinator, Nomathemba Ndlovu, confirmed that Chief Nhlamba will be installed soon, now that all the necessary processes have been completed, while the installation of Chief Marupi is still pending.
The late Chief Denis Ndlovu Nhlamba of Garanyemba in Gwanda passed away on 28 May 2022 at a hospital in Bulawayo. He was 75.
He was installed as chief on July 16, 2010, and served for 10 years. In contrast, Chief Marupi (Oaheng Nare) passed away in October 2024 at the age of 28.
“Regarding the installation of Chief Nhlamba, I can confirm that all the processes have been completed. He will be installed soon. The process involves selection meetings chaired by chiefs, and my office has been tasked with informing the successor, who is currently in Botswana,” he said.
“The process starts with a recommendation to the Provincial Chiefs Council (PCC), followed by approval from the National Chiefs Council. However, all that has been completed. We are just waiting for communication from the Ministry of Local Government,” she said.
The council’s chairperson, Chief Tshitaudze, could not be reached by direct calls or WhatsApp messages to comment on the position of the PCC.
During the burial of the late Chief Nhlamba in 2022, the then Ward 14 councillor, Pheanious Maphosa, appealed to the then Minister of Local Government, July Moyo, for the speedy installation of the new chief, considering that they had previously spent more than 20 years without a substantive chief to replace Chief Dennis Nhlamba.
In his response, Minister Moyo said the process of installing another chief was determined by family members.
“As a government, we do not detect or determine who should be the next chief; instead, the family decides and chooses their own, following their tree diagram. There is a grace period of two years for family members to select the rightful heir,” he said.
The DDC also disclosed that the family is cooperating well.
“There are no conflicts at all,” she said.
Upon installation, the new chiefs are tasked with being custodians of culture, land management, and promoting development in line with national initiatives like Vision 2030.
However, in cases where the chosen chief is too young, a regent may be installed to lead, as was the case with Regent Chief Zanele Khumalo. The late Chief Marupi was chosen when he was twelve years old, and his uncle served as regent until he turned 18.
The government is also currently focusing on a chieftaincy resuscitation drive to rebuild traditional courts, reflecting a deeper investment in traditional leadership structures.