Tengani coronation tomorrow
A Bachelor of Science degree, a Master’s degree in Information Systems Engineering, coupled with a lucrative job as group IT manager in the hospitality industry—but the man—Foster Chindebvu—walks down to the Shire Valley tomorrow to be installed Traditional Authority (T/A) Tengani in Nsanje.
The heir to the throne confirmed in an interview on Friday that his coronation, to be presided over by Local Government Minister Tarcisio Gowelo, is set for tomorrow.
Chindevu, born 49 years ago in Mwendomthengo Village, said he is the second-born son to Hysbeck and Agnes Chindebvu in a family of two daughters and four sons.
As T/A Tengani, he said he would strive to drive the development agenda of government by initiating development projects in the area.
Chindevu said: “Chiefs are not politicians. They only work with the government of the day. As you know government needs chiefs to implement its development plans and the chiefs need the government to develop their areas.”
The chieftaincy was never without controversies. There have been court battles about who is the rightful heir to the Tengani throne, but the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal in June this year upheld High Court’s determination that ruled in favour of the Chindebvu clan.
Chindevu said as T/A Tengani, he would work to bring the people together for the good of the area as well as for national development.
Chindevu was selected to Zomba Catholic Secondary School and later, in 1986, got selected to Chancellor College where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in 1990.
Chindevu said: “After I graduated from Chancellor College, I worked for the Reserve Bank of Malawi and Lilongwe Water Board. In 2004, I went to Cardiff University, in the UK, where I obtained a Master’s in Information Systems Engineering.”
The T/A-Tengani-to-be is husband to Elizabeth Chindebvu, director of culture, in the Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture. The couple is blessed with three sons—Livingstone, Dalitso and Kondwani.
Is this person you describe as holders of BSc and Master degrees? I wonder whether he is the authentic holder of these degrees? His argument on who a chief shows lack of knowledge of what he will be. A chief by virtue of his office is a politician. His understanding of politics is too naïve and myopic. If I were responsible for his coronation, I would have not allowed him to ascend to his throne because he is not fit for it. Anyway chieftaincies are for everyone ignorers and intellectuals. Let it be so.