The revered and beloved leader of the Ngoni people Paramount Chief Mpezeni IV has today died at the age of 75 bringing to a close one of Zambia’s longest and most influential traditional reigns.
His death was announced today by Senior Chief Nzamane, who confirmed that the Paramount Chief passed away in the early hours at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka and his body has since been moved to Maina Soko Military Hospital.
David Njengambazo Jere alias Mpezeni IV ascended to the throne at the age of 31 in 1982 following his father Paramount Chief Pontino Jere (Mpezeni III)’s death.
The Ngoni royal council informed him following a year-long morning and deliberation period—traditionally referred to as the “year of the witch-hunt” of his destiny as he was working in Livingstone unaware of what was taking place.
David was crowned in a ceremony that took place at Ephendukeni Palace and attended by Zambia’s founding President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and officiated by Paramount Chief M’Mbelwa of Malawi.
His father’s dynasty had already spanned decades and his coronation marked a continuation that would go on to last 44 years, making him Zambia’s longest-serving Paramount Chief.
The paramount chief is remembered as a figure who during his rule strengthened the Nc’wala Traditional Ceremony and grew it into one of Zambia’s most prominent cultural events drawing thousands from within and abroad.
With former South African President Jacob Zuma attending the 2022 ceremony at the invitation of Mpezeni IV to witness the coronation of Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
Mpezeni VI left a memory to cherish when he went back to South Africa to trace his tribe’s ancestral roots.
His relations with Zambian presidents were an interesting one as he worked with successive presidents during his reign fostering peace, unity, reconciliation, self reliance, and agriculture among his people and citizens at large.
He married a king’s daughter who passed away in 2009 and latter remarried. Mpezeni VI leaves behind a wife, one child and grandchildren.
Paramount chief Mpezeni VI’s leadership preserved Ngoni tradition, promoted unity among his people and strengthened cultural identity.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon but his legacy as Inkosi YaMakhosi—the King of Kings—will endure in the history of Zambia and the Ngoni nation.
