The Khumalo clan in Lupane has appointed John Khumalo as the acting Chief Mabhikwa, CITE has been informed.
This comes five months after the tragic death of Chief Mabhikwa born Vusumuzi Khumalo in a car accident in May.
Chief Mabhikwa was just 19 when he was installed in 2012, six years after his father, Edwin, died.
John Khumalo is a brother to the late Edwin Mabhikwa Khumalo who died in 2006.
Speaking to CITE, a family member Donald Khumalo said the decision was made during a family meeting in September.
“We met as a family at the end of September where we had invited all our brothers to engage on some of the issues that needed our attention. One of the agendas was that the people needed a leader as it is impossible to have a community without a chief,” said Khumalo.
“We had a lengthy conversation which took us the whole day, if I am not mistaken we started around 10 am and finished around 4 pm. All our brothers who came were given the opportunity to say what they had to say and what they thought. Everyone was given the opportunity to even vote for themselves until we arrived at the decision that our brother John Khumalo will represent us at the moment while we have not made the final decision.”
Khumalo said the acting chief will represent the family until next year May, “we think by that time we would have made a decision.”
He added that the Local government ministry is also aware of the family’s decision.
“During the family meeting we had invited the police, we even have the minutes of that meeting for public consumption. After that, we notified the local government and they were happy and asked to be also part of the meeting. We held another second meeting where they were also available in the meeting showing that there was transparency, “said Khumalo.
Meanwhile, he said so far, the acting chief has been invited to some of the national events.
“As it is, he has been part of all the invitations that need a chief, for example during the official opening of the courts in Lupane and the President’s meeting with chiefs on Gukurahundi, he was invited. As it is, he has been invited to Lupane State University as a chief,” said Khumalo.
He added that they had not had any disagreements as a family.
“So far we haven’t had any disagreements as a family and we think that if there is anyone who is not satisfied they are free to bring forward their reservations because everyone is free to say what they think as chieftainship is a family thing,” said Khumalo.
