Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa the fourth died on Tuesday at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre after a short illness.

The burial arrangements of the top chief in the whole northern region is to take place this coming Saturday at Edingeni in Mzimba. Currently, the body is lying in state at State lodge in Ntunthama area 3 in Lilongwe for public viewing and on Thursday the remains of the inkosi will be ferried to Edingeni for burial on Saturday, his elder son born in 1985 and holds a Diploma is to take the Chieftainship!

President Joyce Banda and former Vice President Justin Malewezi who chairs the Chewa Heritage Foundation all paid tribute to the fallen chief on Tuesday.

Born Zongendawa Jere in 1954, the Ngoni Chief was installed as Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa IV in February 1984 by Paramount Chief Mpezeni of Zambia at his home Village of Edingeni in Mzimba.

This was after the death of his father Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa III.

The status of Inkosi ya Makosi is automatically paramount chief because of powers vested in the holder as the Head of Ngoni Chiefs.

The paramount chief went to Edingeni Primary School and later was selected to Mzuzu Government Secondary School where he finished his studies in 1976.

Among other areas, he worked for Press Holdings Limited and Shire Valley cattle Ranch in Chikwawa as an administrator.

Just as any other Ngoni, he liked eating meat but contrary to many of his tribe, Inkosi ya Makosi M’mBelwa IV was not taking alcohol.

When interacting with his subjects the paramount chief used to wear khaki shorts but when attending cultural functions, political or official meetings one could easily identify him in short sleeved suits with a walking stick.

Divorced some few years ago, Inkosi Ya Makosi M’mbelwa IV is survived by four children – a girl and three boys.

His first born son Mkhosi Jere will automatically inherit his late father’s throne. Born in 1985 Mkhosi has a diploma in human resource management.

Most Malawians will remember Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa IV as an advocate who vehemently rejected calls to split Mzimba, the biggest district in the country, into two.