NWAMATATANI - On October 18, Mirror carried a story titled "The Nwamatatani Chieftaincy to court" which stated that three Kubayi family members are fighting over the throne.

However, among the three who were reported to be fighting, Mr Daniel Kubayi decided to come to the media to put the matter straight by saying that all he has been doing is to make sure that an appropriate person must be installed. According to him, most of the former chiefs of the village have never been real chiefs, since they were just acting chiefs.

In an interview Daniel Kubayi indicated that he is not interested in becoming the village chief. He blamed people who came to the media to reveal that he and the other two Kubayi brothers are in a chieftainship war. He revealed that he does not support the idea of installing Mr Thomas Kubayi as the new chief of the village, since his father has never been a real chief, but was acting as a chief.

Kubayi went on to reveal that in a Jiwawa War, which was fought a long time ago, the man who was known as Nwaxigwama, was given a small piece of land as a token of appreciation for his involvement in the war by the great Tsonga King, Soshangane. Nwaxigwama became the chief of that land and after his death, he was succeeded by his first-born son, Xitlhangoma. After his death, the title was given to his son, Magezi Kubayi.

Daniel's mission started after the death of Magezi and according to him, that's where the acting chieftainship started, and this is what he is totally against. A man known as Zava became the first acting chief as there was no one to take over. The second acting chief for the village was James Makhosani.

The third acting chief for the village, according to Daniel Kubayi, was Gezani Mabedle, who was then followed by Abel Kubayi, who is the father of Thomas Kubayi.

This issue of chieftainship have even delayed the process of installing a new chief for the village since the death of Mr Abel Kubayi. Mr Thomas Kubayi, who is the son of the late Abel Kubayi, was supposed to have been installed recently, but due to the same issue, it has been delayed.

"I am not against the installation of a new chief for the village, but I believe that the throne must be taken by a well-deserving person and secondly, anyone from the Nwaxigwama's house can take over except someone from the acting chiefs' house", said Daniel Kubayi.