For almost 10 years, the rural village of Manamani near Shayandima had been without a traditional leader. This, however, was set right when Vhamusanda Nndavheleseni Ravele was installed as the new traditional leader of the village over the weekend.
Ravele succeeded his late father, Vhamusanda David Tshisamphiri Ravele, who passed away in 2013. Since then, the village had been ruled by the royal council, under the leadership of Aifheli Tshifularo.
The ceremony was held at Manamani Primary School's sports grounds on Saturday, 22 April. Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, as the senior traditional leader, conducted the installation. Thulamela Mayor Sarah Rammbuda and the Commissioner for Traditional Affairs in the Vhembe region, Mmbulaheni Mamidza, were among the guests.
Thovhele Mphaphuli told Ravele to lead by example and rule without taking side or favour as he would be in charge of rich, poor, old, and even mentally ill people.
"We are concerned about the chieftainship squabbles among the royal families in most clans, which cause delays in the installation process of new heirs to the throne. Royal families must sit down and identify the rightful heir to the throne, rather than fight with each other over who will succeed after the death of their ruler," said Thovhele Mphaphuli.
Mayor Rammbuda congratulated the new traditional leader, saying that the municipality was often blocked from implementing service delivery in villages that had no traditional leader. Rammbuda said that, as a local municipality, they worked hand in hand with traditional leaders in the delivery of services, and she urged Vhamusanda Ravele to actively participate in the Tihosi/Mahosi Forum.
Commissioner Mamidza, who handed the certificate of recognition over to the new leader, told Vhamusanda Ravele that they had a programme in the department to educate traditional leaders on the advancement of good leadership skills.