Mzimba Crown Prince wedding gets Ngoni’s support: It’s April 12
As days draw close to April 12, the day when Crown prince Mkhosi Zwangendawa Jele, eldest son of Malawi’s late Paramount Chief M’mbelwa IV, will tie the knot with his sweetheart, Beauty Munthali, subjects continue to come forth in support of the event, which will put a historical mark in the lives of the Malawi Ngonis and the country.
A former banker, Mkhosi marries the future Mzimba Queen, Beauty who was raised and educated in South Africa, at the chieftaincy’s headquarters at Edingeni in a traditional event characterised by Ngoni culture and fanfare, at an event budgeted at K20 million.
Mkhosi will take over the M’mbelwa chieftaincy and will now be addressed as Inkosi ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V.
The National Organising Committee (NOC) for the Crown Prince’s wedding has gone flat out soliciting pledges from subjects and well-wishers within Malawi and abroad, ensuring that the plans go as expected.
NOC chairperson Dean Lungu said the event will be graced by the presence of distinguished and great Ngoni leaders from South Africa, King Mswati from Swaziland, and His Royal Highness Inkosi Mpezeni from Zambia, among many from within the southern African region.
Locally Ngoni Paramount Chief Gomani of Ntcheu, Ngonde Paramount Chief Kyungu of Karonga/Chitipa, Tumbuka Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe of Rumphi, Lomwe Paramount Chief Mkhumba of Phalombe, Sena Paramount Chief Lundu of Chikwawa, and others are all expected to also be in attendance.
Other cultural leaders will include the Chewa Paramount Chief Gawa Undi from Zambia and other main cultural leaders from within and outside Malawi.
Inkosi Mabulabo is coordinating the international traditional chiefs, the efforts of the NOC to the Chief’s Council of Mzimba.
Traditional dances from different cultures, led by the Impi of Mzimba, will provide entertainment.
“This is a historical event that all Mzimba Ngoni and all Ngoni people must be proud of. We must support this wedding as it will probably be the first and last in our lifetime. We are honoured to witness this kind of affair and we must help make it the greatest and most historical event of all times as far as Mzimba district and its chieftaincy is concerned,” said Lungu during a planning meeting held at the Lilongwe Golf Club.
“I therefore ask all Ngonis and well-wishers at large to contribute to the budget and in kind. This is our pride, our time, and our event. Any amount is welcome.”
Plans indicate the royal couple will undergo a number of wedding ceremonies, including a Church ceremony officiated by the Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP at the Edingeni CCAP Church, and the main traditional Ngoni culture reception at Edingeni grounds.
The dress code at the church will be formal while at the reception it will be the traditional Ngoni attire for both men and women. An official cloth/wrapper, going at MK1,000 per metre, has been produced and is on sale at strategic points across the country.
A prior Ngoni traditional ceremony involving that ensures all dowry and traditional matrimonial marriage exchanges have undertaken place, the Chibiza, will be completed a day before the wedding day per Ngoni culture.
For pledges, the organising committee opened an account: M’Mbelwa Wedding Fund, Account Number: 1001122092. National Bank of Malawi. Henderson Street Service Centre. Blantyre, or effecting transfers via Mo626, Internet Banking or direct bank transfer.
Key members receiving receipted contributions and pledges are Ken Mthuzi on 08 88 828 972 and [email protected]; Luis Sibande on 08 81 505 120 and [email protected]; Moses Mkandawire on 09 99 865 718 and [email protected]; and Dean Lungu on 09 99 952 275 and [email protected]
Various pledges have since been made by both Mzimba subjects and well-wishers, also from the corporate world which has indicated financial and material assistance.
The district of Mzimba comprises a number of Traditional Authorities from the Ngoni people. The head of these Traditional Authorities, or Paramount Chief (Inkosi ya Makosi), is M’Mbelwa.
According to Mtwalo as per Ngoni culture, they don’t install a person who is not married.
“ After his marriage, we will then reveal the actual date for his crowning,” he said.
M’mbelwa IV, who died on February 12 2013, was accorded a State funeral. He was laid to rest on February 17 2013 at Edingeni in Mzimba.
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