Vaalgras unification is a dream

Disgruntled southerner writes;

I am very much disturbed by Chief Joel Stephanus’ speech at the recent Annual Festival marking his 37th year of rule. As all are well aware there were no Concerned Group and/or Interim Committee at Vaalgras, until the 14th February 2009.

There was even no coherent reason for one to come into existence at all, if there was real reciprocal respect. All these changes were long overdue, but it was simply because of the moral respect that the community had for the leadership.

I am really surprised and disappointed that so many bona-fide inhabitants of Vaalgras do not apparently know where this fight is coming from and what it is all about? The Chief should do away with the tendency of denial stage and start thinking outside the box for common good.
I applaud the Chief for the constructive statements he made at the recent festival, provided that he puts his words into action.

However, he contradicted himself by denying what he has done wrong, but he is simultaneously saying in tears that his doors are reportedly open for talks. If his doors is open for negotiations, why did he boycotted the community meeting of 4th June 2011 of which he set the date and for which he was invited officially in writing, as was testified and proven in the High Court of Namibia on the 18th April 2012.

In my view he as the wrongdoer, scapegoat and the culprit should convene his own meeting and invite the community at the meeting held on the 14th February 2009, at which he “unilaterally” appointed seven(7) additional traditional councilors.

That is why we are saying the chief is not his own man and is being remote-controlled by Mr.
Konjore. He refutes this statement and is furious about this, while the two of them have sowed the seeds of division among the community for personal economic gains.

The community is simply saying this is not how we had been running our affairs according to the century’s old traditional norms and practices.

However, he was advised by his right-hand man to apply autocracy, as he apparently has the powers to appoint councilors. We do not know according to which law or traditional customary or practice. Yes, it is good that he realizes that the community is divided, as he and his equates would have to see

The panacea of the problem is, Chief Stephanus, whose actions chased away or divided the community should go and find the lost sheep. He should set into motion that drives, he should create a platform to give the community a platform to go and raise their grievances. He caused the havoc and cannot sit back and wait for the people to come back to him, as if he is totally innocent.

He is busy with an ally that is happy and is celebrating his achievements, through that old African proclivity of divide and rule, oppressing others and selective empowerment moves, but this must end immediately. The Chief’s drawing-board is to go back to the community and to say “sorry I was wrong all along, I was misled and I am now ready to reconcile to work for unity for common purpose”. Otherwise, I wonder how he should lead the community of Vaalgras to greater heights, as he has promised at the recent Annual Festival.

Fortunately, we have heard from the High Court of Namibia that the Chief can be removed at anytime, the community has the constructional right to freedom of association and that the community can question the leadership of a given Chief, if they are not satisfied, so the long process is still on. He should stop crying crocodile tears and differentiate between emotion and the reality.

There is a hidden power-struggle for the chieftainship among his own circles in the absence of a clear-cut succession plan. How can you do something wrong in a democracy and say “ I have done it and that is law and finished, no one is going to query it and you can go where ever you want to you”.

It is for him to open up his mind, eyes and to talk stock of what is really happening in order to set into motion consequential reconciliatory talks to rescue his own throne. It must be crystal clear that we are just demanding genuine economic development and are not fighting for the throne.

Letter has been shortened -ED