One of the senior Vhavenda traditional leaders, Mailausumbwa Kennedy Tshivhase, lashed out at the people from the Makhuvha clan over their constant fighting over the chieftainship.
Tshivhase was accompanied by the executive mayor of the Vhembe District, Dowelani Nenguda, during a visit to Ha-Makhuvha village on Saturday, 6 May, after news spread that some of the royal family members were at each other's throats about who the legitimate ruler of the village was.
While Mukandangalo Makhuvha and Vhamusanda Vho-Ntikedzeni Makhuvha both claimed to be the rightful heir to the throne, Vhamusanda Ntikedzeni was declared the legitimate traditional leader of the village in the end.
According to Tshivhase, Vhamusanda Vho-Ntikedzeni Makhuvha had already been installed as the traditional leader of Makhuvha village in 2011, when he succeeded his father Vhamusanda Miriiavhavha Makhuvha, who died in 2009.
"All rituals of who the real traditional leader of Makhuvha village was had already been performed by the khadzis and makhotsimunene and family members. Mukandangalo Makhuvha should have fought or interdicted Ntikedzeni Makhuvha's installation if he disputed this decision," said Tshivhase.
He said that, as the senior traditional leader of the Tshivhase dynasty, he always encouraged people from the clan to unite and decide who should succeed in a peaceful manner. According to Tshivhase, the ones who had the final say were the makhadzi, ndumi and those in the inner circle, such as the makhotsimunene.
Vhamusanda Vho-Makhuvha was very happy that he was given the authority to rule the village. "We want stability in the village, because communities need better services, like clean water, electricity and better roads. We are worried about people stealing cables in our village, and stock theft is also rife in this area. We appeal to communities to report all forms of crime to the police," said Makhuvha.