Ntabazinduna Chieftaincy: Ndiweni Clan Appoints Acting Leader Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

 Inkosi Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni 

By Southerton Business Times Editorial Staff

The Ndiweni Royal House has officially appointed an acting chief to oversee traditional affairs in Ntabazinduna, a move aimed at ensuring administrative continuity while Inkosi Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni remains in the United Kingdom. In a formal communiqué addressed to the Umguza District Development Coordinator (DDC), the clan announced that Wishes Ndiweni was selected as Acting Chief, effective March 31, 2026. The family emphasized that this appointment is a temporary measure and does not signal a vacancy in the substantive chieftaincy.

The appointment was made under the provisions of the Traditional Leaders Act, which allows for interim leadership when a substantive chief is outside their jurisdiction. According to the Ndiweni family, Wishes Ndiweni, a long-standing and "trusted figure" within the royal house, is well-equipped to handle the community’s traditional and administrative needs.

"The House Ndiweni has seen it appropriate to appoint an Acting Chief until such time as Inkosi Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni returns," the family stated in their letter. "This is in terms of the customs, traditions, and norms of the Amangwe and Nguni people."

The announcement comes amid a protracted legal and political standoff between the Ndiweni clan and the Zimbabwean government. While the state has previously moved to "dethrone" Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, the clan remains defiant, asserting that the Electoral College of Succession concluded its work between 2013 and 2014.

"Nhlanhla Felix Ndiweni remains the Substantive Chief of Ntabazinduna," the clan reaffirmed, noting that the government's 2019 attempt to remove him is currently under review by the High Court. Under Zimbabwean law, the President’s role in appointing chiefs is a formalization of the clan’s choice, rather than an independent selection process.

The dispute traces back to the 2010 passing of the legendary Chief Khayisa Ndiweni. Despite internal family divisions, most notably involving his brother, Douglas Ndiweni Nhlanhlayamangwe was installed as heir based on a 1981 declaration by his father and the late uGogo uMasuku’s will. For Ntabazinduna, the appointment of an acting leader provides a necessary bridge. As a critical economic and cultural hub in Matabeleland North, the area requires steady leadership to navigate land use issues and local development projects while the "Chief-in-Exile" continues his legal challenge from abroad.

Ndiweni clan acting chief