Council opposes meeting on Damara governance issues

The Damara Kings’ Council (DKC) has formally objected to a consultative meeting convened by the urban and rural development ministry on matters relating to Damara customary law, chieftaincy and succession.

The council argues that government has no authority to determine the community’s governance structures.

In a media statement dated 24 June, the DKC reiterated its opposition to what it described as attempts by the minister or any arm of the executive to prescribe the form of central governance for the Damara people.

Furthermore, in a letter dated 21 June and addressed to minister James Sankwasa, the council expressed what it described as “serious concern and disappointment” over the ministry’s decision to invite representatives from only eight recognised Damara traditional authorities to a meeting scheduled for 2 and 3 July in Otjiwarongo.

It said the Damara traditional community consists of 34 clans, of which only eight currently enjoy formal recognition under the Traditional Authorities Act.

It argued that any process seeking to deliberate on matters affecting the overall governance, customary laws, succession systems or traditional leadership structures of the Damara people should be conducted through engagement with the broader community.

The council said neither the Traditional Authorities Act of 1997 nor the Traditional Authorities Act of 2000 grants the minister powers to prescribe, harmonise, alter or direct the governance systems, succession practices or customary laws of the Damara traditional community.

“The role of the minister is limited to those functions expressly provided for in law,” Abner Xoagub stated, adding that matters concerning kingdom, paramountcy and chieftaincy succession should remain within the authority of the traditional community.

The council has argued that the minister’s authority derives from the Traditional Authorities Act and is limited to recognising traditional authorities, ensuring compliance with the law, facilitating administration and considering recommendations relating to the recognition of chiefs and traditional councils.

“The minister does not have the authority to invent, design, or select a governance system for any traditional community,” Xoagub said. The council further argued that perceived divisions within the Damara community stem from limitations in the statutory framework governing traditional authorities rather than from the community itself.

The council called for the planned meeting to be deferred immediately and requested that the ministry refrain from any process that could be interpreted as interference in the internal governance arrangements of the Damara people.

Ministerial invite

The objection follows an invitation issued by Sankwasa on 12 June to selected representatives of Damara traditional authorities. The minister said the ministry had received numerous applications for the recognition of traditional communities as well as disputes relating to designations, chieftaincy and succession.

In addition to demanding the ministry cancel the Otjiwarongo meeting, the council also called on government to open what it described as a formal and inclusive dialogue with the 34 clans, not only with the eight.