Mmbelwa told Zodiak Online Saturday on the sidelines of a tree planting ceremony organized by Mzikubola Trust that what remains now is the installation ceremony.

“All the groundwork has been done in terms of finding out who the next heir is. As of now the chiefs council has already written government - sending it a name so that we can install the chief,” said Inkosi ya Makosi Mmbelwa the fifth in an interview.

“The matter has been resolved. We are now waiting for government since both the traditional and government ceremonies are done together. We end this matter once and for all”.

However this has not gone down well with, Masabani Jere, the other claimant heir to the throne who maintains he is the rightful successor “and no one can change this.

“The courts ruled in my favor. Right now the Ombudsman is looking into the matter,” said Masabani Jere. 

Jere insists that he is the rightful heir as all documentation certifying him as Inkosi Mzikubola remains in his custody since 2004 and he receives monthly government honoraria for chiefs.

“All government transactions in my area are done through me as Inkosi Mzikubola,” he said.

Jere says the involvement of the chiefs’ council is not legally binding as it does not have legal mandate in the matter at hand therefore “As far as I am concerned, government cannot and will never install Khetwayo Jere as Inkosi Mzikubola”.

Since the death of Chifwede Jere, the wrangles over the chieftaincy of Inkosi Mzikubola has run on for 20 years and appears nowhere near ending, as it were.

The wrangles have been punctuated by ugly scenes of violence where followers on the camps clashed in situations that police have had to be called in sometimes.

Some development stakeholders argue that the in-fighting has cost the area development initiatives.