President: Namibia will not become a monarchy on my watch
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has vowed to defend Namibia’s constitutional democracy, warning traditional leaders that she will not allow the country to descend into a patchwork of monarchies, tribal enclaves or family-based settlements.
Speaking at the official opening of the 26th annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Ondangwa yesterday, the president urged traditional authorities to end infighting, tackle corruption and support government efforts to drive socio-economic development.
Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed concern over persistent disputes within traditional communities, particularly succession battles, which she said are eroding public trust in the institution of traditional leadership.
“As I am speaking to you now, out of 53 recognised traditional authorities, 16 are without leadership due to succession disputes. It is very, very disturbing,” the president said.
One nation
Nandi-Ndaitwah cautioned that continued applications for the recognition of new traditional authorities risk becoming financially unsustainable and could deepen tribal divisions.
“Although, as a traditionalist, I respect traditional authorities, we cannot have a country fragmented into pockets of tribal or even family settlements," she said.
"It is like every family wants their own traditional leader. Very soon, you will hear the Mukwanangobe clan wants their traditional leader. That will not be accepted. I am very sorry, my dear traditional leaders."
She asked whether some leaders were intent on transforming Namibia’s democracy into “a monarchy of very small monarchies.”
“I have taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, and I will not allow that to happen on my watch. We should be more Namibian than our tribes,” she emphasised, drawing loud applause.
Time a precious resource
She noted that succession disputes not only divide communities but also drain government resources that could otherwise be directed toward pressing national priorities such as poverty reduction and healthcare.
“Even the minutes the minister [of urban and rural development Sankwasa James Sankwasa] spent here talking about it, and the minutes I am now spending – we could have discussed something better. And remember, these minutes are the resources of the Namibian people,” she said.
The president urged traditional leaders to uphold and comply with customary laws and to resolve leadership disputes as a matter of urgency.
“You cannot continue to deny your subjects the necessary services that could be derived from a proper traditional governance system. If they can be run for many years without a leader, as president, you are telling me there is no need for a traditional leadership in that community. They can then fall under central or municipal government. We cannot hold our people hostage,” she warned.
Justice for communities
To strengthen governance structures, Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that community courts would be further empowered, including through the provision of vehicles to ease their work.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare handed over eight vehicles to the community courts of the Kambazembi, Maharero, Ondonga, Oukwanyama, Ovambanderu, Uukolonkadhi and Uukwambi communities.
“This marks the first step in our government’s commitment to empowering community courts with the necessary resources to deliver essential services," the president said yesterday.
"The government will continue to budget for community court vehicles until all traditional courts are covered,” she added.
Meanwhile, Sankwasa warned that this would be the last council session to accommodate traditional authorities embroiled in unresolved disputes.
“Before you become a member of council, resolve your chieftaincy disputes in terms of your custom and tradition. The Act is very clear that a chief of a given community has functions to execute. When you take so many years without a chief, who is executing those functions?” he pointed out.
The Council of Traditional Leaders’ 26th annual meeting continues until 12 September.
[email protected]
Speaking at the official opening of the 26th annual meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Ondangwa yesterday, the president urged traditional authorities to end infighting, tackle corruption and support government efforts to drive socio-economic development.
Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed concern over persistent disputes within traditional communities, particularly succession battles, which she said are eroding public trust in the institution of traditional leadership.
“As I am speaking to you now, out of 53 recognised traditional authorities, 16 are without leadership due to succession disputes. It is very, very disturbing,” the president said.
One nation
Nandi-Ndaitwah cautioned that continued applications for the recognition of new traditional authorities risk becoming financially unsustainable and could deepen tribal divisions.
“Although, as a traditionalist, I respect traditional authorities, we cannot have a country fragmented into pockets of tribal or even family settlements," she said.
"It is like every family wants their own traditional leader. Very soon, you will hear the Mukwanangobe clan wants their traditional leader. That will not be accepted. I am very sorry, my dear traditional leaders."
She asked whether some leaders were intent on transforming Namibia’s democracy into “a monarchy of very small monarchies.”
“I have taken an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, and I will not allow that to happen on my watch. We should be more Namibian than our tribes,” she emphasised, drawing loud applause.
Time a precious resource
She noted that succession disputes not only divide communities but also drain government resources that could otherwise be directed toward pressing national priorities such as poverty reduction and healthcare.
“Even the minutes the minister [of urban and rural development Sankwasa James Sankwasa] spent here talking about it, and the minutes I am now spending – we could have discussed something better. And remember, these minutes are the resources of the Namibian people,” she said.
The president urged traditional leaders to uphold and comply with customary laws and to resolve leadership disputes as a matter of urgency.
“You cannot continue to deny your subjects the necessary services that could be derived from a proper traditional governance system. If they can be run for many years without a leader, as president, you are telling me there is no need for a traditional leadership in that community. They can then fall under central or municipal government. We cannot hold our people hostage,” she warned.
Justice for communities
To strengthen governance structures, Nandi-Ndaitwah announced that community courts would be further empowered, including through the provision of vehicles to ease their work.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare handed over eight vehicles to the community courts of the Kambazembi, Maharero, Ondonga, Oukwanyama, Ovambanderu, Uukolonkadhi and Uukwambi communities.
“This marks the first step in our government’s commitment to empowering community courts with the necessary resources to deliver essential services," the president said yesterday.
"The government will continue to budget for community court vehicles until all traditional courts are covered,” she added.
Meanwhile, Sankwasa warned that this would be the last council session to accommodate traditional authorities embroiled in unresolved disputes.
“Before you become a member of council, resolve your chieftaincy disputes in terms of your custom and tradition. The Act is very clear that a chief of a given community has functions to execute. When you take so many years without a chief, who is executing those functions?” he pointed out.
The Council of Traditional Leaders’ 26th annual meeting continues until 12 September.
[email protected]
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