Chieftaincy dispute

Tuestioned how a candidate could be voted for without properly introducing himself his educational background, as well as economic policies in the primary elections. He Tueried how they were supposed to nominate people they did not know. ³Another thing, the EB& declared that campaigning is not allowed at this stage but we see the 7aiwan Embassy is going up and down with some ministers such as Mad]e, ‘&ruiser’ and 3hila Buthele]i, distributing rice parcels to constituents, much against your directivce,” 'lamini alleged. 7he constituent further he had to come to count the food parcels.

He said on 6aturday evening, Ndabazabantu Madvod]elibandla 7sabed]e came to the chiefdom to report that food had been delivered by the commission to the other chiefdom. ³, told him that , have erected a tent here in preparation for the EB& educational exercise and organised all the things they asked for.

³He told me that the 5A had called him to inform him that two announcements were made about the exercise and instructed him that the EB& event should be held at the chiefdom’s hall at the other

umphakatsi, where the registration for elections was conducted. , am here at this chiefdom as per a ruling that was made by the /ud]id]ini &ouncil that indvuna

must continue to work at the chiefdom of the late &hief Macebo *amed]e,” he said.

7he indvuna further claimed that the 5A, 7hemba Msibi, and Ndabazabantu

7sabed]e, had a hand in this matter.

He based his allegations on the fact that he was supposed to be contacted as the

Indvuna of the Mpolonjeni &hiefdom to give direction as to where the EB& event should be held but they allegedly sidelined him. )urthermore, *amed]e said they had since been summoned to 1khanini today by the /ud]id]ini &ouncil about the incident. He said he was optimistic that the meeting would shed light and bring an end to the ongoing chieftaincy dispute at the chiefdom. ³,n , &hief Macebo died and the late Makesi *webu was Indvuna

supposed that the EB& was Tuiet amid the ‘campaigns’ by the said ministers. On another note, he enTuired how the EB& ensured fair voting in prison. 7he constituent alluded to that there were no people bogalajane , who were present in &orrectional facilities to ensure that voting was done fairly without officers influencing inmates to vote for a particular person. Another constituent purported that the ministers were campaigning because they were all along not distributing the parcels but were seemingly doing so in the past two months. He alleged that they at that time. ,n , the other 'vuba clan built their chiefdom. 6o, the legitimate chiefdom is the one here and after my appointment in , , advised the 'vuba clan that the chiefdom of the late Macebo 'vuba should be revived but the other faction heard none of this.

Direction

³7he 5A and ndabazabantu are fueling the fire in this matter yet they should be giving direction,” he alleged. 7he indvuna recounted that his family had been attacked three times by a mob, purportedly from the other faction. Adding, he said the chiefdom’s houses and royal kraal had been burnt several times, allegedly by the other faction, due to the ongoing chieftaincy dispute. *amed]e said his son was once abducted by people and released after the police intervened. ³7he other faction does not recognise this chiefdom yet it is the legitimate one. , have written several letters summoning the other 'vuba factron to meetings but they have snubbed them on the basis that they have their own chiefdom. , also wonder why the commission failed to call me on the latest developments,” the indvuna elaborated.

:orth mentioning is that Indvuna *amed]e was appointed and installed as well as presented to the residents of Mpolonjeni at the other chiefdom. Ndabazabantu 7sabed]e said the 5A Msibi called and instructed him to host the EB& event at the chiefdom’s hall where the registration of the elections took place. ³, reported the food delivery from the commission and asked him

*amed]e to come and count the food parcels but he did not honour the invite hence

the educational exercise continued here. , will be part of the summoned people at 1khanini tomorrow today to deliberate on this matter,” he said. ,t is worth noting that ,nkhosikati /aMashwama recently launched a foundation called ,mbeleko )oundation at the chiefdom’s hall.

3rince 7hemba, who was also present during the EB& event, acknowledged that the other faction was wrong to pitch a tent yet they knew very well that the legitimate chiefdom was the one where a hall was built by the Ministry of 7inkhundla Administration and 'evelopment.

³, have been a resident here for years and only recognise this chiefdom where the late Indvuna Makesi *webu was installed and presented to the people,” he said. Mpolonjeni Member of 3arliament M3 -acob 6iwela said it was his second term in 3arliament and had been elected by the electorate at the Mpolonjeni &hiefdom where the hall was built.

He further thanked the electorate for coming in numbers to honour the EB& voter educational exercise.

³Even the three previous M3s were elected here hence people recognise this one,” he said. Efforts to get a comment from /ubombo 5A Msibi hit a snag at the time of compiling this report as he did not answer several calls when attempts to reach him were made yesterday evening.

Meanwhile, EB& &ommunications Officer Mbonisi Bhembe also could not be reached as he did not answer his mobile phone when several called were placed to his mobile phone.