Nkoya traditional leaders blamed over clashes

By SANDRA MACHIMA A Nkoya traditionalist has blamed its traditional leadership for failing to end the succession confusion that has rocked Chief Kahare’s kingdom.

This is in the wake of reports that some people have been left nursing wounds after clashes between two warring groups.

Shibata Mubwati called on the traditional council leadership to resign on moral ground before many lives were lost.

Mr Mubwati said the Nkoyas had a traditional council that presided over traditional matters, but that it was silent over prevailing issues in the chiefdom.

“What is the purpose of having a council that is not functional and could not find the solution to the outstanding issue, and therefore it will be justifiable that they step down,” he said.

He said it was unfortunate that the council was taking sides at the expense of standing for the right procedure.

Initially, the villagers were divided into groups, in support of their preferred person, but the other group led by Edward Kahare did not reportedly agreed with the majority, hence the two camps were fighting over Chief Kahare’s throne.

But the Mr Stanford Mayowe led group spokesperson, Kamwaya Kamwaya told the Daily Nation that he (Mr Mayowe) who was chased from the palace by Mr Edward Kahare led group was brought back by the community, claiming he was a rightful heir to the throne based on their traditional lineage.

“Mr Mayowe has been brought back to the palace by the community and he is the rightful heir to the throne because the person who was supposed to be there is currently in prison over the same issues and their team is not eligible and is still very far from being on that throne. Hence the community had gone back to look for Mr Mayowe who had fled the palace in fear for his life,” he said.

Mr Kamwaya charged that the community was in support of Mr Mayowe, saying he was a rightful heir as per their traditional lineage.

He appealed to the security authority to safe guard the people, as those surrounding the chiefdom were now living in fear.