Thovhele Tshedza Netshimbupfe, one of the most senior traditional leaders in the Vuwani area, has urged the newly inaugurated traditional leader, Khosi Nkhetheni Alpheus Nemavhulani, to respect his subjects if he expects the same from them.

Netshimbupfe was speaking during the installation of Khosi Nemavhulani of Mavhulani on Saturday, 27 July. During the ceremony, officiated by Thovhele Netshimbupfe himself, Nemavhulani was given a new name and will henceforth be called Khosi Vho Matase. Additionally, Mr Mpfariseni Muhali was named the ndumi, while the new khadzi will be Ms Mushaisano Nemavhulani.

The Nemavhulani clan’s leaders were not ordinary chiefs but were at the level of Thovhele before they were forced to leave their land at Mdavula outside Malamulele. They were welcomed by the Netshimbupfe clan, who gave them a piece of land to rule. This was in the late 1960s, and since then, they had to relinquish their status of Thovhele to Khosi.

The new traditional leader succeeds his father, Vho Thovhele Tendani Nemavhulani, who passed away in 2012. He was the last Thovhele under the Nemavhulani clan.

When inaugurating the new leader, Thovhele Netshimbupfe made clear that he expects the new leader to be an agent of change and development in his area. “What we need here is development, and this will only be possible if there is cooperation between your subjects and yourself. I am installing you here for the sake of good governance and for you to be my eyes. I implore you in front of this gathering to respect your subjects, and they will in turn respect you,” he said.

The new leader said he would rely on the royal council and Thovhele Netshimbupfe for advice. “There are so many things that I feel need urgent attention. Our people lack employment opportunities. We have fertile lands suitable for peanut production that could be processed and provide an income to our people. This would need good roads, and the agricultural project would need water, which is scarce here,” he said.

He undertook to discuss these issues with Thovhele Netshimbupfe, who will, in turn, escalate them to the government.