New twist in VaGciriku chief dispute

The urban and rural development ministry’s probe into a chieftainship battle at the VaGciriku Traditional Authority has found that Felix Muraghuli Mashika is the legitimate heir to the throne, official documents seen by Namibian Sun indicate.The probe was necessitated after the ministry received more than one application for the succession of late Chief Kassian Shiyambi, who died in November 2019.This new development is contained in a letter from urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni to the VaGciriku Traditional Authority chairperson Chrysantus Likoro.“This letter serves to communicate the outcome of the ministerial investigation carried out during 5 to 18 December 2022 and 19 and 25 February.“I therefore hereby resolve that, in order for government to ensure that the Gciriku Traditional Authority upholds, promotes and preserves the culture, tradition and traditional values of its community, the will of the late Chief Shiyambi - nominating Mashika to be his successor - should be adhered to and respected.”The will was confirmed by the Gciriku and Shambyu traditional authorities and Gciriku community members interviewed during the investigation, it said.“The traditional authorities and most community members indicated that, according to the Gciriku culture and traditions, if the sitting hompa nominates someone to succeed him, his will should be respected.”FactionsAccording to Uutoni, the investigation revealed that the Gciriku royal family is divided into three factions, with one group supporting Mashika, another supporting Arwita Kayoka and the third in support of Simon Maruta.He added that the three parties to the dispute are family members from the Gciriku royal family, although Mashika and Kayoka are from the maternal lineage while Maruta is from Nyangana’s paternal lineage.According to customary law, the Gciriku chieftainship is derived from the maternal lineage.Uutoni added that the group in support of Mashika displayed the Gciriku traditional instruments of power, alleging that they were handed over to Mashika by the late chief after nominating him as his successor. This was also confirmed by the Gciriku and Shambyu traditional authorities, he said.Court casePrior to Uutoni’s announcement, Mashika approached the High Court last year to challenge the legality of Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo’s refusal to sign his chieftainship application.Wakudumo had only opted to sign Kayoka’s application, which saw Mashika having to forward his bid directly to the line ministry.The matter was recently heard in court, and was postponed to 27 September to await the minister’s pronouncement.kenya@namibiansun.com

New twist in VaGciriku chief dispute

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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New twist in VaGciriku chief dispute

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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