Nkoya chiefdom clash looms
ACLASH is looming in the Kahare chiefdom of the Nkoya people where an uncle and a nephew are fighting for the same throne, with the former asking police to intervene. Deposed Chief Kahare has appealed to the police to step in the succession dispute that has rocked his chiefdom and arrest his nephew for allegedly masquerading as Chief Kahare. The chief said, he could have used force to remove his nephew from the throne after winning a court case, but he wanted the police to do their job. He said, he had tried to see the Inspector General of Police, Kakoma Kanganja, but was allegedly blocked by some officers. Succession wrangles in the chiefdom started following the death of Chief Kahare in July 2016, and the Nkoya speaking people of Nkeyema district in Western Province have not known peace since. According to Chief Edward Kahare, his nephew, Stanford Mayowe who was currently in the palace was masquerading as Chief Kahare, despite him having won a case in the court of law. Chief Kahare said that he had several times written to the police to remove the masquerader from his palace for the sake of peace, but wondered why they had not taken action. Initially, the villagers were divided into groups, with one group backing Edward Kahare and the other supporting Stanford Mayowe. Chief Kahare urged police to arrest the man masquerading as chief so that people can live in peace. “I have powers to kick him out but I want to follow the law. I have engaged the police but they appear to taking long to act. Even to date the police have failed to arrest the people behind the burning of our village last year as a result of the same wrangles,” he said. The traditional leader said his attempt to seek audience with Inspector of General Police Kakoma Kanganja, was blocked by some officials at the police. He said it was unacceptable that an impostor was using his resources that were left at the palace. “All my resources are there and they are being used by the people who are there masquerading as chief, and this is not fair,” he complained. But the Mayowe-led group argued that it was unacceptable to impose Mr Edward Kahare as a chief, alleging that he was an ‘adopted child’ who could not inherit the throne.