Inkosi M’mbelwa ban on miniskirts and table cuts shocks subjects

Days after Mzimba Ngoni Chief Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa V instituted a ban on wearing miniskirts and immoral haircuts, his subjects have expressed dismay at the decision.

Recently, the 32 year-old chief launched bylaws which restrict the Ngonis of Edingeni in Mzimba from indulging themselves in immoral behaviour.

A pamphlet made available to this publication indicates that women are not allowed to put on trousers and miniskirts.

As for men, they are not allowed to shave their hair in fashionable haircuts including Mohawk, English cut, and table cut.

Failure to follow the order is punishable by the bylaws and offenders risks paying goats and cows to the king, according to the document.

But in interviews with this publication at Edingeni trading centre on Sunday, most residents described the ban as old-fashioned and a violation of people’s rights.

One of the residents said he expected the youthful king to respect the rights of his subjects in this democratic era.

“It’s very unfair to be dictating us on how and what to wear. This system is very unreasonable and unjustifiable, we expected him to respect our human rights,” he said.

Some of the subjects Malawi24 spoke with vowed to never respect the new bylaws.

However, speaking during the launch of the bylaws, Inkosi M’mbelwa, maintained that the move was set up as one way of restoring order and moral values among his subjects.

“It is not allowed for my subjects to be riding bicycles when passing through my house. They may be punished for that,” he said.