Mswati stays put ‘for life’ as Inkosi Goman V, challenges ‘dethroning’ as Ngoni Paramount Chief

The Maseko Ngoni Paramount Chief Inkosi Ya Makosi Gomani V as the Paramount Chief of Maseko Ngoni is not giving up the throne after being dethroned by some of his royal family members for despising other royal members.

But Mswati Willard Kanjedza Gomani V is firmly staying put.

He told Nyasa Times that his coronation oath is binding until death.

“I will die on the throne,” said young Paramount Chief, stressing that his is a “title for life”.

Mswati was declared Crown Prince in 2009 at the age of 13 after the death of his father Kanjedza Gomani.

But a meeting of some 24 Gomani royal family members which was held at their headquarters in Ntcheu recently, resolved to fire a 20 year old Mswati Willard Kanjedza Gomani as Paramount Chief.

The decision was made after observing that Mswati and the then regent, Rosemary Malinki, are despising other royal family members.

At the meeting, the Senior Prince, Titus Phillip Gomani declared Dingiswayo Samson Gomani as a caretaker until further notice.

But Mswati has said he will not be moved with that decision as he will continue to act as Paramount Chief.

He has meanwhile urged Maseko Ngonis to follow the patrilineal system of marriage to avoid succession wrangles.

Speaking at his royal headquarters at Lizwe la Zulu in Ntcheu, the Ngoni supreme chief said: “We can keep away from chief succession wrangles which are common now if patrilineal marriage is prioritized. This is because the children born from such marriages are culturally believed to have stronger family recognition and bondages.”

Gomani said apart from preventing succession disputes, such marriages will further end land disputes which he said overwhelm most traditional authorities under his jurisdiction.

“Patrilineal marriages should be followed by all Maseko Ngoni because they have potential to abolish land grabbing issues among family members more especially when one parent dies,” said Gomani.

He observed that children, widowed mothers and orphaned children have always been chased away from their land a situation that he said results in suffering.

The Gomani Maseko Ngoni royal family in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania trace its roots to the royal hierarchy of Ngcane Maseko kings who ruled parts of South Africa and Swaziland particularly during the reign of King Maphanga Maseko who had succeeded King Mcamane Maseko 1.