Source: Another chieftaincy wrangle in Matabeleland North | The Sunday News
Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
THE Government has responded in the negative to a High Court application challenging the legitimacy of the Shana chieftaincy in Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province by the Nemananga clan, saying there were no records to back the assertion that the chieftaincy was stolen from them in connivance with the then-white native commissioner.
The court challenge is part of a wrangle over the succession of Chief Shana III, born Zondani Jonah Neluswi, who passed away in May last year at the age of 83.
The Shana chieftaincy is in charge of parts of Matetsi and Jambezi in the expansive Hwange District.
Less than a year, after the death of Chief Shana III, Mr Elias Nyoni through his lawyers, Dube, Mguni and Dube Legal Practitioners, approached the High Court, seeking an order for the chairperson of the Matabeleland North provincial assembly of chiefs to within six months convene a meeting to address the dispute between the Nemananga and Neluswi Shana clan, regarding the appointment of a substantive successor to the Neluswi Shana chieftaincy.However, in an opposing affidavit, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, who is the Second Respondent, alleges that Chief Nemananga was not recognised as a chief in 1948 saying the idea of trying to revive a chieftaincy that never existed was a fallacy.
Mr Nyoni in his heads of argument, notes that he is a descendant of the late Chief Chimbipo Chali Nemananga who died in 1948 and was succeeded by Mkhosana Neluswi who he alleges is not of the Nemananga clan, which he notes as the background to the dispute.
He alleges that Mkhosana Neluswi (Chief Shana I), the uncle of the late Jonah Zondani Neluswi (Chief Shana III) was a messenger in the Chief Nemananga Courtyard and used his influence with the then-white native commissioner in the area to take over the chieftaincy.
“There is a dispute between the Nemananga and Shana clans regarding the chieftainship of the Matesi and Jambezi areas of Hwange District, in Matabeleland North Province. This dispute arises from the rise of the Neluswi Shana chieftainship in 1973, to rule over the lands that had historically been presided over by the Nemananga Chieftainship, before it was hijacked by the Neluswi clan after the death of the applicant’s great-grandfather, Chief Chimbipo Chali Nemananga in 1948.
“The purpose of this application is to seek an order that will correct the distorted history of the baNambya people, residing in Matetsi and Jambezi areas of Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province. This history was distorted since 1951 with the appointment of Mkhosana Neluswi as headman, to take over the rulership of the land of the Nemananga clan in Matetsi and Jambezi areas of Hwange District, without following traditional rites,” said Mr Nyoni.
He further revealed that the Nemananga chieftaincy, which dates to 1903 existed at a time when the baNambya community of Hwange District was divided into two chieftaincy, namely Chief Nemananga and Chief Nekatambe.
“The chieftainships were demoted in 1950 with the appointment of Chief Whange as paramount Chief of the baNambya people. The Nemananga Chieftainship was then taken over by one Mkhosana Neluswi who was appointed headman in 1951 to take over from Chief Chimbipo Chali Nemananga, without following the succession tradition of the Nemananga clan and that of the baNambya people.
“Applicant submits that sometime in 1984, before the late Neluswi Chief Shana whose real name was Jonah Zondani Ncube was appointed, Mr Paul Kalifa Nemananga approached the then-District Administrator to challenge the nomination of the now late Chief Shana, but his efforts were in vain,” read part of Mr Nyoni’s heads of argument.
In his application, Mr Nyoni said he is not claiming to be the rightful successor to Chief Chimbipo Chali Nemananga, but he represents the Nemananga clan in approaching the relevant authorities to determine, which one is the rightful clan for the chieftaincy within the Matetsi and Jambezi areas of Hwange District, between the Nemananga clan and the Neluswi Shana clan.
Minister Garwe notes that at the time, even Makhosana Neluswi was not a chief, but rather a headman and was only elevated to become a chief in 1973.
“The applicant’s claim to represent the Nemananga clan lacks legitimacy because the clan lacks recognised authority in the context of the chieftaincy succession, particularly as Chief Nemananga was not acknowledged as a chief in 1948.
“No record proves that Nemananga was chief in 1948 except for Headman Mkhosana, whose position was upgraded to chieftainship. Therefore, the request to revert a chieftainship that never existed is null. In the district file, they do not have information about a Chief Nemananga,” said the Minister.
The Neluswi Chief Shana Chieftaincy wrangle follows hard in the heels of another dispute regarding the heir to the Mabhikwa chieftaincy, following the appointment of Ms Zanele Khumalo as Regent Chief Mabhikwa.
Ms Khumalo takes over from her late brother, Vusumuzi Khumalo, who tragically died in a car crash along the Bulawayo – Victoria Falls Road, in 2022.She is expected to serve in the position for nine years until Makhosemvelo Khumalo, the son of Vusumuzi, who is a minor, comes of age and takes over as substantive chief.
However, this has been disputed by her uncle, John Khumalo who, together with 32 family members approached the High Court to reverse the appointment.
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