Succession wrangles erupt in Chongwe’s Bunda Bunda Chiefdom

CHIEF Bunda Bunda of the Soli speaking people of Rufunsa District has been dethroned following the Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday last week which was ruled against him.

Chief Bunda Bunda ascended to the throne in 2013 but his succession was later challenged by the Musona family who felt that they are the rightful owners of the throne.

When the matter came up in the Lusaka High Court in 2018, the court ruled in favour of the current Chief however the Musona family did not hang up but dragged the matter to the Supreme.

Speaking to Journalist in Rufunsa yesterday, Chief Bunda Bunda vowed that he respected the court ruling but he will not leave the throne to another person while his alive.

He alleged that Lusaka High Court Judge Edward Musona abused his office to ensure that the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Musona family.

The traditional leader indicated that, in the history of the Soli land such has never happened before where a sitting Chief can be replaced while alive.

He said, he and the headmen will ensure that the Soli tradition is protected.

Chief Bunda Bunda said he will not allow the minority to bring confusion in the Soli land because this will bring hell in the chiefdom. “we have never seen a situation where a living Chief is dethroned or replaced in our chiefdom since 1600. Yes, we respect the court judgement but when it comes to our custom we cannot replace a living Chief.

As Soli Roya Establishment it is our duty and responsibility to uphold and protect our custom and tradition. If a Chief is installed he is never removed until death. This so because when a Chief is installed he undergoes sacred rituals, during that scared rituals a lot of things are performed on that person’s body, “he said.