Chief Ndiweni Short Biography
Chief (Inkosi) Felix Nhlanhla Ndiweni
Official Title Inkosi (Chief) Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni Born on the 10th August 1963, in Ntabazinduna, Zimbabwe.
His Father was the late Paramount Chief Kahyisa Ndiweni who was a " Substantive " Chief in office for over 71 years. Passed away in August of 2010. The Paramount Chief was a signatory to the Lancaster House Conference / Treaty of 1981 held at Lancaster House in the United Kingdom that gave rise to the independence of Zimbabwe.
His Mother was ugogo, Indlovukazi ( queen mother ) Masuku, Prince from the House Masuku of the Clan Masuku of Gwanda.
Out of 11 siblings the young Felix was number 9.
Inkosi completed his secondary education at Falcon College Esigodini ( Essexvle ) in 1980. On completion at Falcon College his father immediately sent the then young Felix abroad to the United Kingdom on 1st January 1981.. For the Paramount Chief had grave concerns about the incoming Zanu PF government. Time has proven that the Paramount Chief's concerns were right. This was in 1980 when the world was placing great adulation upon R.G.Mugabe of Zanu PF, who would then be given a State Visit to the United Kingdom.
On arrival in the United Kingdom the young Felix Ndiweni completed studies in Modern Engineering Foundation and would later complete Management Studies degree level. However, in between this period he would complete many studies whilst working for The London Borough of Waltham Forest, within the department of Community Safety. Where he worked in community cohesion and diversity. Before this Local government position, he had worked for many years in the private sector in stocktaking and auditing within the retail industry.
During this period, he travelled to over 45 countries throughout Europe and Africa. During this period the young Felix made many trips back to Ntabazinduna.
On the passing away of the Paramount Chief Kahyisa Ndiweni in August 2010, the elders of The Clan Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna recalled the Felix to Ntabazinduna. And it was at the funeral of the Paramount Chief that it was revealed by the House Ndiweni of the Clan Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna, who would succeed the Paramount Chief. For custom and tradition dictates that it is only the heir apparent of the House and Clan that can conduct the laying to rest of such a Paramount Chief (The folding of the Paramount Chief).
In terms of culture and tradition Felix Ndiweni became Inkosi Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni in August of 2010 at the funeral of the Paramount Chief. However, it would take the Zanu PF government until June of 2014 to sign the legal documents confirming him as " Substantive " chief of Ntabazinduna.
Like his father before him, Inkosi Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has been very critical of the Zanu PF government, with respect to democracy, rule of law, corruption, lack of accountability and
transparency, The Ndebele Genocide, gender and much more. As a result, the Zanu PF government has tried to kidnap him twice to date. The Zanu PF government has held him at the point of guns two times. The Zanu PF government has tried to steal and kidnap him in broad daylight in front of Tredgold Magistrates Court in Bulawayo by using a large mob of party members. To date the Zanu PF government has fabricated many cases against him. He has been illegally detained twice in police stations. He had a major case fabricated against him with 21 of his subjects. The 21 were remanded in custody three separate times and finally given community service whilst Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Felix Ndiweni was held in remand and then convicted of the fabricated case then sentenced to 18 months in Khami Prison. Whilst in jail he suffered injuries to his eyes. His legal team, after a number of weeks managed to get him released from jail.
Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni sought permission to go back to the United Kingdom for advanced eye treatment as advised by the Eye doctor in Bulawayo. That permission was given by the Zanu PF government. Whilst he received treatment in the United Kingdom Chief Ndiweni attended the handing in of a Democracy Petition to 10 Downing Street in United Kingdom. The following days the Zanu PF governemnet issued an arrest warrent against Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni for having gone for treatment in the United Kingdom.
Whilst in the United Kingdom Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has worked extensively with the Zimbabwe Diaspora community and other organisations seeking to address the lack of democracy and lack of Rule of Law in Zimbabwe. To this end Chief Nhlanhlayamangew Ndiweni is the founder for The MyRight2Vote campaign seeking to obtain the voting rights for those millions of Zimbabweans outside Zimbabwe.