Court attempt to dethrone Hambukushu chief fails

Two people who wanted the court to remove Hambukushu chief Erwin Munika Mbambo from his position have failed after the Windhoek High Court deemed their evidence insufficient.On Monday, judge Esi Schimming-Chase granted the State’s absolution from instance application.The test for absolution from the instance is whether the plaintiff provided evidence upon which a court can consider.The applicants, Cassius Mukennah and Angelika Thirudhi, were further ordered to pay the defendants’ costs.Government, the Hambukushu traditional authority and Mbambo were the respondents in the case.“The matter is finalised and removed from the roll,” the court order read.‘Not fit to lead’Mukennah and Thirudhi wanted government to rescind its recognition of Mbambo as the head of the traditional authority.During his heads of argument, Mukennah, who is a member of the Hambukushu royal family and the chairperson of a committee that wants to remove the chief, argued that he is not fit to lead the tribe.The duo also said Mbambo mismanages the community’s resources, is dictatorial and has failed to promote peace and welfare in the community.Namibian Sun previously reported that on 7 November 2018, the committee conducted a referendum about Mbambo&#039;s chieftaincy. It claimed that of the 2 931 people who participated, 2 705 votes were cast against him.The committee has also accused the chief of blocking much-needed development.No evidenceIn September last year, the State lodged the absolution from instance application, which was postponed to 30 January.“We submit that there is no evidence upon which the honourable court can grant the order sought by the plaintiffs in this matter, unless the honourable court is satisfied that section 8 (1) was complied with - that there was a good cause for the removal of the chief,” the defendants argued.“We submit that it will be unjust to grant an order in terms whereof the minister of urban and rural development can be directed to notify the President of Namibia of Chief Ervin Munika Mbambo’s removal as chief of the traditional authority and for the president to recognise - by way of proclamation in the Government Gazette - the alleged removal of the chief.”kenya@namibiansun.com

Court attempt to dethrone Hambukushu chief fails

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-17

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Court attempt to dethrone Hambukushu chief fails

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Namibian Sun 2026-08-17

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