Tumbukas tired of living under Ngoni shadows
TUMBUKA Royal Establishment are tired of living under the shadow of Ngoni leadership and are appealing to Government to recognise their Senior chief Longwe as the paramount chief of their area.
The Tumbuka’s Spokesperson Nkhwiza Gondwe said in an interview with #Kalemba that the Ngonis only have eight villages in their territory yet their chief, Magodi is considered paramount to chief Longwe of Gong’ontha Village in Chasefu district who leads over 1,200 villages.
“He doesn’t deserve to reign over us as we have more than 1280 villages while the Ngonis only have eight villages. They are drawing strength from the Tumbuka villages,” Gondwe disclosed.
Gondwe further noted that most of the Tumbuka traditional ceremonies have also been suppressed by the Ngoni traditional ceremonies.
He says this has a negative impact on the coming generation as they will grow up not knowing their own culture, customs and traditions.
“As the Tumbuka tribe, we have our own customs and traditions which we want our children to know so that in future they should not get lost.”
“And our senior chiefs for the Tumbukas is senior chief Longwe Johnston Lungu,” Gondwe disclosed.
Gondwe revealed that their appeal is not aimed at inciting violence or cause chaos but to enhance Tumbuku culture.
He said once their plea is heard from government, they will live in peace with chief Magodi.
However, Gondwe stated that the Ngoni ruler would have to submit to senior chief Longwe once everything is finalised because one territory can’t have two senior chiefs overlooking it “it will be clashing.”
Meanwhile, the Tumbuka Royal Establishment co-ordinator – Daniel Kumwenda said they tried to engage the previous government over the issue but to no avail.
Kumwenda said they wrote three letters during the PFs regime without any feedback back, and now they have written to the new dawn government with hopes that their concerns will be met.
In picture is senior chief Longwe Johnston Lungu
Moses Makwaya
Kalemba