Coronation of Gomani V in August
The royal Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani family, chiefs and elders of the Maseko Ngoni have agreed that the installation of Malawi’s young crown prince, Mswati Gomani V should take place in August this year, a newspaper reported on Monday.
A consensus on the date was reached during an annual general meeting of the royal family, chiefs, Impi (traditional protectors of the chief), and elders of the Maseko Ngoni on Saturday at Nkosini at Lizulu in Ntcheu.
“We agreed as a family that the function (coronation) takes place in August because that is the time when the heir to the throne has a long holiday and as such it would accord us good preparation and ample time to prepare him for his new role.
“And reeling from that, we float this suggestion to you chiefs and Impi to discuss as well as initiate plans for the process of installation ceremony,” Acting Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani, Rosemary Malinki, is quoted by Daily Times as saying during the forum.
Willard Mswati Gomani, currently s secondary school student, is the heir to the throne, previously held by his late father Kanjedza Gomani, as Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani IV, who died in September 2009.
Plans to install the new paramount chief follow the completion of the official mourning period for his father late last year, with a ceremony known as ‘Mbuyiso’.
During the Saturday meeting, the chiefs (Makosi), Impi and the elders nodded to the August programme, consequently engaging the gear for preparation for the ceremony. The grouping put in place a steering committee, which would immediately start preparations for the ceremony.
“Thorough planning is necessary to ensure that the ceremony should be colourful and full of rich cultural pomp. We need to speed up things as we have agreed to ensure we have the best of the ceremony,” said Impi Leonard Chikadya, master of ceremonies at the function.
After installation, the new paramount chief will take up his traditional role of leading the Maseko Ngoni people who apart from Ntcheu, also exist in Dedza, Neno, Mwanza, Thyolo, Lilongwe and some pockets of other districts in Malawi.
