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DLANGENI - Dlangeni Royal Kraal Chief Nsukumbili Gama has advised that church issues should not be mixed with family matters.

The chief was addressing the Gama family of the St Joseph Church in Zion at the area’s royal kraal recently.

The family was summoned to the royal kraal following an ongoing succession battle between the newly-appointed Archbishop Joseph Gama and some of his family members.

Advised

“Yes, I met and advised the family against mixing church and family issues,” the chief said briefly in an interview. It should be noted that the chief met the Gama family in camera.

It was also gathered that the chief did not commit himself on the church issue except advising the family to follow what was contained in the principles of the church.

President of League of African Churches Bishop Samson Hlatjwako wanted to know when the Gama family started complaining about the appointment of Joseph. The bishop stated that as far as the organisation was concerned, all procedures were observed prior to the introduction of Joseph to the King.

Concerned

“The appointment of Joseph did not happen overnight. We called all the concerned parties and asked if there was any objection to the appointment of Joseph and there was none. We do not introduce a person to the King if there are ongoing talks,” he said.

He stated that Joseph was introduced and blessed by the King as the new Archbishop of the church.

He stated that appointment of bishops was different from the appointment of chiefs.

“The appointment of chiefs requires that the chief’s wife be appointed before the confirmation of her son. We do not go that route in the appointment of church leaders,” Hlatjwako said.

He said appointment of church leaders was not determined by birth but by the gift of the candidate.