Gomani V Can’t Be Fired—Ngonis

Maseko Ngonis have said youthful Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani V, born Mswati Willard Kanjedza Gomani, cannot be fired because he “was born a chief and not appointed”.

Briefing journalist in Blantyre in the wake of earlier reports that the Maseko Ngoni paramount chief was dismissed, representatives of the Gomani royal family advisers—amakhosis, impis—led by Inkosi Njolomole, said the Ngoni chieftaincy has a well-built structure that cannot be moved, shaken or destroyed by any personal influences. He said a Ngoni chief is known at birth.

Njolomole, who explained the structure of the Ngoni chieftaincy, said when Gomani I had children, it was known that his son, Phillip, would succeed him and when Phillip gave birth to seven children who stand as the seven Gomani families, only one was born as a crown prince.

He said: “It is from that one child among the seven that the Gomani V lineage is coming from as the Gomani III who was chosen among the seven is Willard, the father of Kanjedza Gomani who was Gomani IV.”

Henry Hastings Gomani, speaking on behalf of the royal family, said it was unfortunate that some of their family members chose to oust Gomani V; a thing he said was unprocedural.

Gomani said the family was not even aware of the reasons the purported group chose to do that because they did not inform them and it was a lie to claim that Gomani V had become big-headed and was ignoring advice from his relations.

On his part, Inkosi Kwataine said Gomani V is ruling from the powers he inherited when he stood on his late father’s grave at the time he was being inaugurated and it is only a person who has gone through that kind of ritual that rules the Maseko Ngoni.

He said: “There is no one who can be ruling the Maseko Ngonis without following procedures and we want to make it clear here that Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani V is still ruling and nothing can change that.”

One of the impis, private practice lawyer Chikumbutso Mkwamba, said the Maseko Ngoni were surprised to learn about Gomani V’s alleged dismissal because the Chief’s Act gives the President the ultimate powers to fire a chief after following relevant procedures.

He also said the family can only have powers to relieve a chief of his duties if death occurs or if the chief has been incapacitated and none of the two has happened to Gomani V.

The impi, who said the Maseko Ngonis’ doors are open for any discussions with the other group, added that among all other issues the one of who is the Maseko Ngoni Ngwenyama is not up for discussion.

During the briefing, the impis said, as advisers, they did not receive any complaints of misconduct against their paramount chief and they also expressed concern that the meeting where the other members of the family made the decision to oust Gomani V was not conducted at the Inkosini headquarters in Lizulu, Ntcheu which is a place where everything concerning the chieftaincy is supposed to be handled.

On Saturday, Maseko Ngoni advisers converged on the Inkosini and discussed the ouster reports. During the Saturday meeting, Gomani V said he was in full control.

Mswati, who was declared crown prince at the age of 13 in 2009 after the death of his father Kanjedza Gomani, was inaugurated in 2012. n