the zambian kingdoms series: a tribute to paramount chief mpezeni iv
zambia mourns tonight.
paramount chief mpezeni IV — inkosi yamakhosi, the king of kings of the ngoni — passed away on saturday, 31 may 2026, at the university teaching hospital in lusaka, at the age of 75. his death was confirmed by senior chief nzamane IV at a press briefing at the palace in chipata. he had been on the ngoni throne for 44 years.
the zambian kingdoms series described the ngoni in part 4 — the warriors who came from KwaZulu, who marched three thousand kilometres from natal, who crossed the zambezi and the luangwa and established a kingdom at fort jameson that the colonial administration could not suppress for thirty years. the ngoni arrived in zambia as conquerors. they stayed as a kingdom. and at the centre of that kingdom, for 44 years, was this man.
born david njengembaso jere in the village of efeni in chipata district, mpezeni IV grew up in eastern province and worked in a factory in livingstone before ascending to the ngoni throne in june 1982 following the death of his father, paramount chief pontino jere. he was approximately 30 years old when he was crowned. he was 75 when he died.
in the 44 years between: governments came and went. political alliances rose and collapsed. constitutional debates emerged and faded. through it all, the ngoni throne remained. his ability to maintain relevance without becoming attached to any particular administration was what distinguished him above all others in zambia's traditional leadership landscape.
the nc'wala ceremony — the first fruits ceremony of the ngoni, celebrated in february in chipata — was the ceremony over which mpezeni IV presided for four decades. the warrior regalia. the war cry. the tasting of the first fruits by the paramount chief. every nc'wala that the royal ceremonies series will describe was conducted under his authority. every nc'wala for the next generation will be conducted under his successor's authority.
the ceremony outlasts the chief. that is what ceremony means.
inkosi yamakhosi. the king of kings. 44 years on the throne. the keeper of the nc'wala. the voice of the ngoni.
rest in peace, your royal highness. 🏴️