Just after Zanele Khumalo became the Regent Chief Mabhikwa amid grand celebrations, she faced new problems. Her family members—32 of them—went to the High Court, saying she should not have the job. Zanele, who has two children and lives with her husband, stepped into her late brother's role after Vusumuzi Khumalo died in a car crash on Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road back in 2022. She must serve nine years until young Makhosemvelo Khumalo grows up enough to take over as the real chief.
People celebrated with music and dancing when Zanele started her new job Friday. But these happy events happened despite serious legal questions about who should really lead as the Mabhikwa chief. Several Khumalo family groups say her appointment breaks the law because no such position as Regent exists legally. They also claim John Khumalo never stopped being Acting Chief, which means two people hold similar positions right now.
The upset family members say officials never canceled John's earlier appointment. They point out that the same legal battles delayed Vusumuzi from becoming chief years ago. Back then, John argued that Nicholas Khumalo - father to both Vusumuzi and Zanele - never had the right to be Chief Mabhikwa at all. Their argument centers on old traditions about which wife should give birth to the next chief.
John says tribal custom prevents women from becoming chiefs in their family tree. He claims the Traditional Leaders Act and the Zimbabwe Constitution both create clear steps for picking chiefs, but these rules were ignored. John also believes Zanele lives far from the chief's home and lacks knowledge about important ceremonies. He sees her appointment as disrespectful to their customs since she married into the Ndlovu family and uses that last name. The family worries these changes will tear apart their community and violate sacred traditions they've followed for generations.
People celebrated with music and dancing when Zanele started her new job Friday. But these happy events happened despite serious legal questions about who should really lead as the Mabhikwa chief. Several Khumalo family groups say her appointment breaks the law because no such position as Regent exists legally. They also claim John Khumalo never stopped being Acting Chief, which means two people hold similar positions right now.
The upset family members say officials never canceled John's earlier appointment. They point out that the same legal battles delayed Vusumuzi from becoming chief years ago. Back then, John argued that Nicholas Khumalo - father to both Vusumuzi and Zanele - never had the right to be Chief Mabhikwa at all. Their argument centers on old traditions about which wife should give birth to the next chief.
John says tribal custom prevents women from becoming chiefs in their family tree. He claims the Traditional Leaders Act and the Zimbabwe Constitution both create clear steps for picking chiefs, but these rules were ignored. John also believes Zanele lives far from the chief's home and lacks knowledge about important ceremonies. He sees her appointment as disrespectful to their customs since she married into the Ndlovu family and uses that last name. The family worries these changes will tear apart their community and violate sacred traditions they've followed for generations.
