In a dramatic turn of events at the troubled royal house at Makonde village, the royal family decided to fire the first salvo at its detractors and asked the local traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vho-Tshedza Ravhura, to occupy his throne with immediate effect. This decision was taken in a heated meeting held at the royal palace on Saturday morning (18 February).
Vhamusanda Vho-Tshedza Ravhura was installed as the traditional leader of the village in October 2014, but because he was still young at the time, the royal family elected Mr Edward Ravhura as regent, until Vhamusanda Vho-Tshedza Ravhura came of age. But the royal house elders claim that they were surprised when, a few years later, Mr Nyadzeni Ravhura emerged in the village and started acting as regent, without the approval of the royal family.
The spokesperson for the Makonde royal house, Mr Fhatuwani Ravhura, said none of the royal family members knew when or where Nyadzeni Ravhura had been installed as acting traditional leader of the village. "The royal family elected Mr Edward Ravhura as regent when Vhamusanda Vho-Tshedza Ravhura was installed, because he was still young. We don't know where Nyadzeni Ravhura was installed as regent of our village. If he continues his claims of being a regent, let him produce an appointment letter or a certificate."
Mr Fhatuwani Ravhura said the royal house had elected a new council to work alongside Vhamusanda Vho-Tshedza Ravhura. He added that the reason why the family had elected Mr Edward Ravhura as regent was because he had been a ndumi (a traditional leader's assistant) to Vhamusanda Vho-Tshedza Ravhura's father.
Mr Nyadzeni Ravhura, however, said he had been surprised by the royal house's announcement as, according to him, the only person who had the authority to install a traditional leader or a regent was Vho-Makhadzi. He said he had been elected to act on the throne, seeing that Vhamusanda Vho-Tshedza Ravhura was still a minor and could only rule when he turned 25. "At the moment, the only person who can choose the regent is Vho-Makhadzi Vho-Mashudu Rantsana Mammburu; no one else from the Royal House has such powers."
He said that, without Mammburu's approval, the matter was going to take a long time to resolve.