DAVID KANDUZA –
THE search for a new senior chief Ndubeni in Masaiti District has been concluded and he will be unveiled to the public first week of June.
Lamba Chiefs’ Council chairperson Chief Chiwala told the Sunday Times during the week that his wish was to see to it that the matter was put to rest because it had dragged on for a long time.
He said the chief would be availed to the public within the Ndubeni chiefdom.
The family members to the late Senior Chief Ndubeni who died on November 2, 2015 after being at the helm for 39 years, have been left divided wrangling over the succession of the chief.
Some villagers have claimed that the appointment of a new chief would cause controversy, fights or even spill into courts following disputes that have arisen over the next successor.
But Friday Kabani a senior citizen said their case was different from other wrangles that have taken place in some chiefdoms, because they had adhered to Lamba custom, practice and norms when choosing a new chief.
Mr Kabani said fights for the chieftaincy were largely due to jealousy within the family.
“Our tradition is very clear on this. There can never be any fights as to who will assume the reins once the chief dies,” he said and added: “Where there are squabbles and fights, that can only be as a result of jealousy and nothing else.”
But Sunday Times investigations have revealed that some Lamba chiefs were hinted that the late chief had appointed a successor but the family sought a reversal of the appointment saying it was done in bad faith.
The looming high-profile family feud involves the fight for the Ndubeni chieftainship that had seen nephews and children to the late chief fighting for the traditional role.
A source revealed that nephews and children to the late chief argued that the Ndubeni chieftainship is hereditary and any other appointment was a violation of that practice and norm.
Other residents spoken to who sought anonymity said the process of appointing a chief was not elective or negotiable and therefore, should not spark any wrangles, as according to traditional customs and norms, the process was hereditary.
A senior citizen in Mpongwe who refused to be named observed that chief’s succession wrangles were as a result of matrilineal marriages which were prioritised.
“This is because the children born from such marriages are culturally believed to have stronger family recognition and bondages,” he said.
Chief Chiwala,  however, said the process had been peaceful.
Zambia had in the past registered high number of chieftaincy succession wrangles with some chief installations ceremonies stalling for years.