Malawi President Peter Mutharika has removed Bongololo Gondwe from his position as Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe of the Tumbuka people, citing concerns over the traditional succession process.
The decision was communicated to Gondwe in a letter from the Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development, Reverend Moses Chimphepo.
According to the letter, Mutharika relieved Gondwe of the chieftaincy with effect from August 30, 2026, following concerns from members of the Tumbuka community that his appointment did not follow the tribe’s customary succession system.
The government said the tradition requires the son of a deceased chief to succeed him to the throne.
Chimphepo said the decision was made under Section 11(1a) of Malawi’s Chiefs Act, which provides for a person to cease holding a traditional position when they no longer qualify under the customary law of the relevant tribe.
The development comes days after reports that Gondwe had been removed and replaced by Mtima Gondwe, who had previously been removed from the same position through a court ruling.
The controversy resurfaced during Mtima Gondwe’s burial, when a government statement referred to him as Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe XIII and indicated that he had been reinstated in an acting capacity in August.
Mtima, the son of former Paramount Chief Walter John Hardy Gondwe, was initially installed as Paramount Chief in 2019. However, the High Court in Mzuzu nullified his installation in 2021, ruling that the process was unconstitutional, unlawful and procedurally unfair.
Former President Lazarus Chakwera subsequently confirmed Bongololo Gondwe’s appointment as Chikulamayembe on March 12, 2022.
Bongololo Gondwe’s lawyer, Michael Goba Chipeta, confirmed that his client had received the government’s letter, saying they were discussing the next steps.
The latest decision has further intensified the dispute surrounding the Chikulamayembe throne and the customary succession of the Tumbuka people.
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