Mzimba chiefs to summon MP

Senior Ngoni chiefs in Malawi’s northern district of Mzimba are not amused at a statement in Parliament by Mzimba Luwerezi Member of Parliament (MP) Emmanuel Bofomo Nyirenda that the district is in Malawi by mistake.

The chiefs plan to summon the MP to explain what he meant by that statement.

In an interview on Tuesday, Inkosi Mabilabo confirmed that the chiefs were not happy with Nyirenda’s statement and that they have resolved to quiz him over the remarks.

During debate in Parliament on the new Land Bill, Nyirenda said the land in Mzimba does not belong to the Malawi Government as the bill stated, but to the people of the district who he argued are not part of Malawi, but just “development partners”.

In an interview after adjournment, Nyirenda insisted that the law is wrong to stipulate that all land in the country belongs to the State.

He said Mzimba was part of Malawi by mistake since M’Mbelwa Administrative Council was an independent kingdom neighbouring Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland as Zambia and Malawi were respectively known in the colonial era.

Nyirenda said whereas Nyasaland was colonised in 1895 by the British, Mzimba was not. He said the ‘kingdom’ was only persuaded by the British to work with Nyasaland as “development partners”.

But Mabilabo said some chiefs in Mzimba are upset with the statement hence the move to summon him.

Said Mabilabo: “That statement was very unfortunate. We did not expect it to come from an honourable MP. Everyone knows Malawi, as per our Republican Constitution, is one. The statement is rebellious that can land one in trouble. He is only fortunate he used his parliamentary privilege to say that.”

The inkosi said as a representative of the people from his constituency, Nyirenda should refrain from making statements that are divisive and without basis.

Nyirenda on Tuesday said he made his comment clear in Parliament and stood by it, referring The Nation to Mzimba Heritage Association general secretary Aupson Ndabazake Thole for further comments.

And in an interview, Thole said Mzimba is part of Malawi, but supported Nyirenda’s statement that the ‘kingdom’ joined Malawi as “partners in development”.

He said in 1894, the colonialists, through Inkosi ya Makosi Chimutunga Jere, the son of M’Mbelwa I, negotiated with the people of Mzimba about the status of Mzimba, being a partner in development with Nyasaland.

He said Nyirenda made his statement in Parliament to drive a point home on the Land Bill which was discussed and passed in Parliament.

But Thole clarified that the statement should not be interpreted to mean that people of Mzimba want to cecede from Malawi, but that the district as a ‘kingdom’ under M’Mbelwa should be left with some of its powers as agreed in the 1904 treaty with the British Government when Mzimba joined the protectorate.

FAST FACTS

—The concerned chiefs include Mabilabo, Mtwalo, Mpherembe, Kampingo Sibande, Khosolo, Gwaza Jere, Mzikubola, Mzukuzuku and Chindi.

—Mzimba Heritage Foundation says Mzimba District need to be treated like KwaZulu Natal in South Africa which is within South Africa, but has retained kingdom status.