Chikulamayembe installation set for tomorrow amid conflicts 

All is set for the installation ceremony of Joseph Bongololo Gondwe as Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe the 13th of the Tumbuka people in Rumphi tomorrow despite protests from the rival camp of Mtima Gondwe.

The installation follows President Lazarus Chakwera’s approval of Bongololo Gondwe after High Court Judge Thomson Ligowe nullified Mtima Gondwe’s chieftainship on April 13 2021.

The group has already sent out invitation letters  for the installation ceremony despite Mtima Gondwe’s camp storming Rumphi district commissioner’s DC’s office on Wednesday to demand answers totheir earlier petition to the President against Bongololo Gondwe’s installation.

 “You may recall that when we were delivering our second petition on March 18, we were told to patiently wait for the response from the Head of State,” reads the petition in part.

The group further calls upon Minister of Local Government to intervene to avoid ugly scenes in the Nkhamanga Kingdom.

“Tension has reached boiling point and on the verge of explosion,” the petition continues.

In an interview, representative of Bongololo Gondwe camp, Chikalamba Gondwe said they will continue with the preparations unless the office of the DC orders them   to stop.

“We are continuing with the event on Saturday [tomorrow] and we  will start issuing invitation cards on Thursday [yesterday],” said Chikalamba Gondwe.

Rumphi DC Emmanuel Bulukutu has since assured the petitioners that their petition will be delivered to the concerned parties.n