Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa has been accused of ‘ambushing’ family members on the installation of Simeon Nkhoma as Traditional Authority Malanda in Nkhatabay.

Nankhumwa late last month unexpectedly stormed an Area Development Committee meeting in Chintheche where he installed Nkhoma as T/A in what the family says were bizarre circumstances.

But Nankhuwa dismissed the ambush talk, saying chieftaincy is about blood and that he had asked royal family to choose the rightful heir.

The minister said currently, it is the Head of State who approves the name of the rightful heir that the royal family submits to government within the shortest period of time to avoid chieftaincy wrangles.