A Matabeleland traditional leader has voiced his opinion over the recent jailing of the outspoken Ntabazinduna chief, Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni.
Chief Mathema from Matabeleland South province said that an invisible political hand was behind Chief Ndiweni’s incarceration.
The traditional leader expressed his sentiments while responding to a question during a presentation at a Community Youth Development Trust-organised Matabeleland South anti-corruption indaba on Friday. He said:
In my view, there was a political hand behind the incarceration of Chief Ndiweni. Traditional leaders derive their power from the communities they lead, culture and norms.
You saw that he was arrested together with 23 of his subjects, which shows he had the support of his people who didn’t condone adultery in their community.
Something went wrong; he shouldn’t have gone to jail. There are a lot of things which went wrong; he shouldn’t have been jailed for a value of $300 bond.
You know, I’m from a rural setup. It now needs law gurus to consult and see what went wrong. They should have used the appeals system, up to the ConCourt (Constitutional Court), without jailing the chief.
We make mistakes as traditional leaders at our courts, but there are proper ways to deal with it. Just like magistrates, they are not jailed since their judgments go for review before a High Court judge.
Chief Ndiweni and his 23 subjects who were also convicted of malicious damage to the property last week filed for bail at the High Court pending appeal.
The High Court this Tuesday postponed the chief’s bail hearing to Wednesday (tomorrow).