Nkoya leadership battle resurfaces

A group of people yesterday blocked the installation of Justine Kahare, the son of late Chief Edward as the chief of the Nkoya people.

This came to light when word went round that he would be taken to his village to take over the throne.

The battle for the Kahare throne resurfaced following the Barotse Royal Establishment’s decision to install Justin Kahare as chief Kahare at the weekend taking over from his late father, Chief Kahare who died late last year.

But this move has not go down well with supporters of the other claimant Stanford Mayowe who is presently in the palace as chief.

This has now prompted the Nkoyas to turn to government for clarity on the matter as one camp is supporting the newly installed chief while the other is against, insisting there is already a chief in the palace.

Chief Kahare’s Chiefdom had for a long time been marred by a fierce leadership battle following the death of Chief Kahare which saw two claimants, Edward Kahare and Stanford Mayowe fighting for the throne.

The fierce battle for the throne which raged for about two years, had ended after the recent death of one of the claimants Edward Kahare, leaving Stanford Mayowe as a chief.

But with the installation Justine Kahare at the weekend, the fight for the throne has ensued again.

Late Edward Kahare’s supporters claim since his death, government had not recognised anybody as chief and insist that the current chief (Mayowe) was a masquerader.

And the newly installed Chief Kahare, (Justin Kahare) said his leadership would be based on bringing peace and unity to the chiefdom and to ensure everybody was treated equally.

Chief Kahare said in an interview that it was the responsibility of everyone to respect the rule of law adding that ensuring peace in the chiefdom was his priority.

“My expectation is to bring peace and make it known to every subject that all people should be treated equally without segregation,” he said.

Chief Kahare (Justin) said he expected people to forgive one another and focus on building a strong chiefdom for the benefit of all the subjects regardless of the differences.

The Kahare chiefdom was engulfed in chaos, with two groups turning against each over the throne

Chief Kahare since appealed to those who were against his installation to remain calm and use right channels in trying to express their views to avoid recurrence of the row.

“It is nature that one cannot be loved by all but what is important is to embrace everyone and try to reconcile with everybody,” he said.

He warned that those who would want continue committing atrocities would have themselves to blame because the law was there to protect every citizen.

Chief Kahare thanked his supporters in all the districts saying he would try his best to win the hearts of people, including those who were against him.