Vhamusanda Vho-Ntikedzeni Masikhwa-Mphaphuli was sworn in as the new traditional leader of Ha-Mutoti village during an installation ceremony held on Saturday, 29 April. Masikhwa-Mphaphuli succeeds his late father, Vhamusanda Vho-Gilbert Masikhwa-Mphaphuli, who died in 2018. Since then, the clan had been in a chieftainship feud, until the matter was finally resolved and his son installed as the new traditional leader.
Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, who conducted the installation ceremony himself, urged Vhamusanda Masikhwa-Mphaphuli to be on the forefront regarding development in his village. He told the new traditional leader to love his communities, so that the projects initiated in the village could proceed without difficulties.
Mphaphuli said he used to worry about the ongoing chieftainship squabbles among the family, and urged other clans involved in such feuds to stop this practice.
Among the guests was the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thabo Mokone who, joined by the executive mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality, Dowelani Nenguda, addressed hundreds of people who came to witness the installation of the new traditional leader.
Mokone reminded Vhamusanda Masikhwa-Mphaphuli that the communities need better services, such as clean water, electricity, and better roads. "You have to find out from the Vhembe District Municipality why communities like your village, that lives right next to the Nandoni Dam, are without water. It cannot be good for these people to be without clean running water," said Mokone.