Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni

Last updated

Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni
Born1963 (age 61–62)
Southern Rhodesia
Other namesThe People's Chief, Felix Ndiweni
Occupation(s)Accountant, Chief
TitleChief, Inkosi

Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni (born 1963) is a Ndebele traditional leader from Zimbabwe who is known as one of the few traditional leaders to speak out against the ZANU-PF government. He is a Chief in the Matabeleland region of Zimbabwe. Chief Ndiweni lived in Canvey Island, Essex for several years and left the UK in 2010 to assume the Chieftainship in Matabeleland. Ndiweni is well known criticizing the Zimbabwean government for political abuses, land-use abuses and is a supporter of human rights in Zimbabwe. He is known for calling on the Zimbabwean government to recognize the Gukurahundi genocide. In particular, he has also asked for the return of cattle seized from his father, the late Paramount Chief Khayisa Ndiweni and other ZAPU opposition supporters, during the Gukuranhundi in Matabeleland. He has also asked for Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot which was used by the 5th Brigade Military Unit during that time to be restored as a school. He was arrested in 2019 by the Zimbabwean government, granted bail, and currently has a warrant issued by the Zimbabwean government for his arrest because he is regarded as a "security threat" in Zimbabwe. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Chief Ndweni is an accounting auditor by profession and worked at Waltham Forest Council in the UK. [3]

He left the UK to assume the role of chief in Matabeleland which he was appointed by family members using traditional protocols. He was fired as chief in 2019 by President Emerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa who argued that Ndiweni was not the legitimate traditional leader. Mnangagwa ordered his benefits as chief to end including the possession of state-owned items including the state issued car. Supporters argue that a president cannot dethrone a traditional leader and argue that his dethronement was politically motivated.

Imprisonment

Ndiweni ordered the hedge of a woman accused of adultery to be destroyed in 2019. He went to carry out the ruling with his supporters in accordance to the ruling and was arrested for damaging property.

He was put on trial with 23 of his supporters who received 525 hours of community services. Chief Ndiweni was sentenced to jail for two years under the charge of malicious damage to property worth US$30. He received a six-month suspended sentence. His supporters argue that the sentencing was unfair and politically motivated. Political activists protested his arrest in Zimbabwe on March 17, 2019. A social media campaign under the hashtag #IStandwithNdiweni was also held online. [4] [5]

His jail sentence was appealed by his lawyer, Welshman Ncube, Movement for Democratic Change Alliance Vice-president. Movement for Democratic Change Alliance president Nelson Chamisa visited him while he was in jail at Khami Prison. [6] [7] Additionally, he was granted bail while his appeal was pending. A warrant of arrest was issued for him for violating his bail conditions in December 2021 while he was in the UK receiving medical care. The warrant was issued by police chief Canisious Chesango a week after he petitioned Boris Johnson to support the Zimbabwean Diaspora's voting rights. [8] [9]

2020 Bulawayo attack

Chief Ndiweni was attacked at a shopping centre in Bulawayo on May 15, 2020, by unknown youth gang and reported ZANU PF supporters in a bid to confiscate his car. [2]

Activism

Gukurahundi Genocide

He has been a vocal supporter of survivors of the Gukurahindi and their families. He is known for calling on the Zimbabwean government to recognize the Gukurahundi genocide. In particular, he has also asked for the return of cattle seized from his father and other Zimbabwe African People's Union opposition supporters, the late Paramount Chief Khayisa Ndiweni, during the Gukuranhundi in Matabeleland. He has also asked for Ntabazinduna Police Training Depot which was used during that time to be restored as a school.

COP26 protest November 2021

In October 2021, he led a protest at the outside British Prime Minister's offices in opposition to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's invitation to attend the COP26 climate change conference held in Glasgow, Scotland. Mnangagwa attended the conference. Chief Ndiweni appeared at the Protests outside the COP26 Event in Glasgow on 1 and 2 November 2021. [3] [10]

My Right to Vote Campaign

Ndiweni formed a pressure group with the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, a Zimbabwean political opposition party, to ask the government to allow the Zimbabwean diaspora to vote. Part of this included delivering a petition to Boris Johnson and the British government to intervene in Zimbabwe's human rights record. [8]

Media appearances

Personal

He is the son of Chief Khayisa Ndiweni and a descendant of Paramount Chief Gundwane Ndiweni.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Zimbabwe</span>

The politics of Zimbabwe occurs in a society deeply divided along lines of race, ethnicity, gender and geography. The ZANU–PF party has historically been dominant in Zimbabwe politics. The party, which was led by Robert Mugabe from 1980 to 2017, has used the powers of the state to intimidate, imprison and otherwise hobble political opposition in Zimbabwe, as well as use state funds and state media to advance the interests of the party.

The Gukurahundi was a series of mass killings and genocide in Zimbabwe which were committed from 1983 until the Unity Accord in 1987. The name derives from a Shona language term which loosely translates to "the early rain which washes away the chaff before the spring rains".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZANU–PF</span> Ruling political party of Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) is a political organisation which has been the ruling party of Zimbabwe since independence in 1980. The party was led for many years by Robert Mugabe, first as prime minister with the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and then as president from 1987 after the merger with the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and retaining the name ZANU–PF, until 2017, when he was removed as leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joshua Nkomo</span> Zimbabwean politician (1917–1999)

Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo was a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as Vice-President of Zimbabwe from 1990 until his death in 1999. He founded and led the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) from 1961 until it merged in 1987 with Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) to form ZANU–PF after an internal military crackdown called Gukurahundi in western Zimbabwe, mostly on ethnic Ndebele ZAPU supporters.

The 5th Brigade is an infantry brigade of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). The 5th Brigade was created in 1981 from three former battalions of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA). It later incorporated over 3,000 ex-ZANLA guerrillas from various units. The brigade was based in Gweru and participated in the Mozambican Civil War as well as a genocide known as the Gukurahundi which targeted Ndebele civilians and Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) guerrillas.

The Northern Ndebele people are a Nguni ethnic group native to Southern Africa. Significant populations of native speakers of the Northern Ndebele language (siNdebele) are found in Zimbabwe and as amaZulu in South Africa. They differ from Southern Ndebele people who speak isiNdebele of KwaNdebele.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmerson Mnangagwa</span> President of Zimbabwe since 2017

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa is a Zimbabwean politician who is serving as the president of Zimbabwe since 2017. A member of ZANU–PF and a longtime ally of former president Robert Mugabe, he held a series of cabinet portfolios and he was Mugabe's first-vice president from 2014 until 2017, when he was dismissed before coming to power in a coup d'état. He secured his first full term as president in the disputed 2018 general election. Mnangagwa was re-elected in the August 2023 general election with 52.6% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dumiso Dabengwa</span> Zimbabwean politician (1939–2019)

Dumiso Dabengwa was a Zimbabwean politician. He served as the head of Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) intelligence during the Rhodesian Bush War.

Nathan Shamuyarira was a Zimbabwean nationalist who at different times fought on behalf of and helped lead FROLIZI, ZANU, and ZAPU. He later served as the Information Minister of Zimbabwe and as the Information Secretary of ZANU PF. He was writing President Robert Mugabe's biography at the time of his death.

Khayisa Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni (1913–2010) was a chief in Zimbabwe. He was hugely respected in Matabeleland and a revered figure among his people in Ntabazinduna. He became a chief of the Matebele people of Ntabazinduna and Mbembezi in 1939. He was a direct descendant of Gundwane Ndiweni, the Ndebele leader of the Nguni group that split from King Mzilikazi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Zimbabwe</span> Head of state and of government in Zimbabwe

The president of Zimbabwe is the head of state and head of government of Zimbabwe. The president chairs the national cabinet and is the chief commanding authority of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The incumbent president is Emmerson Mnangagwa, installed on 24 November 2017 after his predecessor, Robert Mugabe resigned in the aftermath of a 2017 coup d'état.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Zimbabwean general election</span>

General elections were held in Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008 to elect the president and Parliament. Because of Zimbabwe's dire economic situation, the elections were expected to provide incumbent President Robert Mugabe with his toughest electoral challenge to date. Mugabe's opponents were critical of the handling of the electoral process, and the government was accused of planning to rig the election. Human Rights Watch said that the election was likely to be "deeply flawed." The elections were characterized by violence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canaan Banana</span> President of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987

Canaan Sodindo Banana was a Zimbabwean Methodist minister, theologian, and politician who served as the first President of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987. He was Zimbabwe's first head of state, a ceremonial president, after the Lancaster House Agreement that led to the country's independence. In 1987, he stepped down as president and was succeeded by Prime Minister Robert Mugabe, who became the country's executive president. In 1997, Banana was accused of being a homosexual, and after a highly publicised trial, was convicted of 11 counts of sodomy and "unnatural acts", serving six months in prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Zimbabwean general election</span>

General elections were held in Zimbabwe on 30 July 2018 to elect the President and members of both houses of Parliament. Held eight months after the 2017 coup d'état, the election was the first since independence in which former President Robert Mugabe was not a candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état</span> Military overthrow of President Robert Mugabe

In November 2017, Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe was removed as president and party leader of ZANU–PF and was replaced by Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance is an electoral coalition of seven political parties formed to contest Zimbabwe's 2018 general election. After the 2018 election, a dispute arose over the use of the name MDC Alliance leading the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa to found the Citizens Coalition for Change.

The following lists events from the year 2018 in Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citizens Coalition for Change</span> Political party in Zimbabwe

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is a Zimbabwean political party. It was established by former members of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance.

Gundwane "Mkhaliphi" Ndiweni was a military leader and the first Paramount Chief of Matabeleland. He is credited for founding modern day Matabeleand and Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. He set up the first of the four capitals, Gibixhegu around modern-day Bulawayo. He was also the maternal uncle of King Mzilikazi - a brother to the kings mother, Cikose Ndiweni. He is best known for leading King Mzilikazi's splinter group to settle in Matabeleland after they left Zululand. For military and security reasons, King Mzilikazi split his migrating kingdom into two. One group was led by himself and the other led by Gundwane Ndiweni. Ndiweni's group traveled through central Botswana arriving in the region now known as Matebeleland, near present-day Bulawayo. He appointed Prince Nkulumane, Mzilikali's son as the Prince, a role he served until Mzilikazi reunited with them. It is unclear what happened to him after 1836. His son, Monyebe Ndiweni, narrates that he died bravely in battle defending Mzilikazi. However, it is suggested by some historians that he was executed by Mzilikazi in 1836 along with other prominent leaders for treason due to this appointment and other rumored plots against the King. His own son was Monyebe Ndiweni, who was executed by Mzilikazi in 1862 for allegedly practicing witchcraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callistus Ndlovu</span> Zimbabwean politician (1936–2019)

Callistus Dingiswayo Ndlovu was a Zimbabwean academic, diplomat, and politician. He joined the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) in 1963 as a teacher in Matabeleland, and went on to serve as its representative to the United Nations and North America in the 1970s. After Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, he was a member of the House of Assembly from 1980 to 1985 and served as a senator from 1985 to 1990. He left ZAPU and joined the ruling ZANU–PF party in 1984.

References

  1. ↑ "Chief Ndiweni flies out to the UK for eye operation". Nehandaradio.com. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni". Giraffe.org. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Traditional Leader Ndiweni in Scotland Protest". Voazimbabwe.com. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Activists protest against Chief Ndiweni persecution". Cite.org.zw. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "Felix Ndiweni Council Worker Turned Zimbabwean Tribal Chief Is Jailed". The Times . Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "Chamisa visit to Chief Ndiweni divides party". Chronicle.co.zw. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Nelson Chamisa visits 'unbroken, upbeat' Chief Ndiweni at Khami Prison". Zimlive.com. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Arrest Warrant For Chief Ndiweni After Seeking 2023 Diaspora Vote". Newzimbabwe.com. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "ZAPU Fears For Chief Ndiweni's Life In Prison". Zimeye.net. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  10. ↑ "Former Chief Ndiweni protests ED presence at COP26". Zimbabwesituation.com. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "The Breakfast Club with Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni" . Retrieved 16 January 2022– via YouTube.
  12. ↑ "Chief Felix Ndiweni In Conversation With Trevor (Full Episode)" . Retrieved 16 January 2022– via YouTube.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.