The Mzimba Heritage Association and the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust have pushed back against the government’s position on traditional leadership, insisting that the status and authority of established Ngoni monarchies must be understood through customary law and historical records.
In a joint statement issued on Monday, the two heritage bodies said they were concerned by a statement issued by the Secretary for Local Government on September 7, arguing that it had raised questions about the legal, constitutional and historical foundations of traditional institutions.
The organisations, which support Inkosi ya Makhhosi M’mbelwa V of the Zwangendaba Jere Ngonis and Inkosi ya Makhhosi Gomani V of the Maseko Ngonis, said Malawi’s Constitution recognises customary law and that traditional leadership should not simply be interpreted outside the historical context of each heritage.
They argued that although Malawi is a unitary republic governed by the Constitution, Section 200 incorporates customary law into the country’s legal framework, while the Chiefs Act recognises entitlement to traditional offices through applicable customary law.
The two organisations further defended the use of the titles Inkosi ya Makhhosi, Ngwenyama and King, saying these reflect the historical dignity and customary status of the Ngoni monarchies and should not be interpreted as a challenge to state authority or national unity.
According to the statement, the Maseko and Zwangendaba Jere Ngoni kingdoms existed as functioning political institutions long before the establishment of the modern Malawian state.
The organisations said the Maseko Ngoni kingdom consolidated its authority in central and southern Malawi during the 19th century, while the Zwangendaba Jere Ngoni kingdom in Mzimba remained independent of European control until an agreement with the British colonial administration in 1904.
They also pointed to other African countries where traditional monarchies continue to operate within constitutional republics, citing the Zulu nation in South Africa, Buganda in Uganda and the Ashanti Kingdom in Ghana.
However, the two heritage bodies said they agreed with the government that traditional governance must be based on order, historical accuracy and verifiable customary law.
They rejected claims to kingdoms and kingships that have no historical basis or cannot be supported by recognised customary law.
“Established traditional institutions central to the cultural identity, heritage, and dignity of our people must not be undermined,” the organisations said in their joint position.
The statement was signed by Advocate Khumbo Bonzoe Soko, Secretary General of the Mzimba Heritage Association, and Impi Kandi Padambo Ndau, Secretary General of the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust.
