Traditional succession disputes: an analysis of its causes in senior chief Tafuna chiefdom of Isoko village in Mpulungu, Zambia.
The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of traditional succession disputes in the succession conflicts that surrounded the Lungu Chiefdom of Mpulungu district in Zambia. This research used a qualitative-descriptive research design. Data was obtained from the purposively sampled District Commissioner, 1 researcher at Motomoto, 2 representatives of political parties one of whom was the area Councillor, 1 Officer in charge Zambia Police, 5 council of elders, and 2 religious leaders and 5 Isoko villagers and 5 Mpulungu residents were conveniently sampled. Data from the Council of elders was collected using the Focus Group Discussion guide while the interview guide was used for all these other respondents. The objective of the study was summed up in five research objectives which targeted investigating the role of the council of elders in the succession process an disputes of Chief Tafuna, establishing the historical aspects that have contributed to the succession disputes of Chief Tafuna, analysing the views of the villagers in Isoko village concerning the succession process and disputes of Chief Tafuna, investigating governments role in the succession process and disputes of Chief Tafuna and lastly collecting suggestions for possible solutions to the betterment of the succession process and Chief Tafuna to end the succession disputes. The findings of the study provided the sought after data as guided by the research objectives and asked by the research questions. The findings can be summed up as having revealed the truth that the council of elders also known as the Lungu Royal Establishment had contributed to the succession disputes of Chief Tafuna. The data collected also revealed that there were a number of historical aspects that had contributed to the succession disputes of Chief Tafuna. Talking about the third research objective data collected indicated that the Lungu people sampled through 5 Isoko residents as well as 5 Mpulungu residents also brought other perceived causes of the succession disputes of Chief Tafuna. The fourth objective was directed at investigating government’s role in the succession process and disputes. A diverse responses indicated that government was not directly involved in the selection of chiefs but indirectly through certain procedures, utterances and through some pronunciations government had contributed to the succession disputes experienced in Chief Tafuna Succession Disputes. Finally, in trying to get suggestions of possible solutions to the succession disputes, all categories of respondents were subjected to this question, similarly a diverse set of ideas were collected with some suggestions coming from more than one respondent while others were of one individuals view only. In summary, through analysing the causes and possible solutions to the succession disputes it was revealed that indeed there were a number of factors that led to the succession disputes experienced in the succession of Senior Chief Tafuna. However, it was also found that not all hope was lost in finding a lasting solution to the succession disputes of Chief Tafuna. The many possible solutions suggested and discussed provided a reservoir of idea which if employed were to bring peace in the selection of Chief Tafuna and other Lungu chiefs generally.
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