VaGciriku chieftainship court ruling expected in June

The Windhoek High Court will deliver its decision on the legality of Kavango East governor Bonifatius Wakudumo’s refusal to sign Felix Muraghuli Mashika’s chieftainship application next month. Mashika is seeking to ascend to the Gciriku traditional authority throne following the death of his grandfather, the late chief Kassian Shiyambi, in November 2019. The VaGciriku community has been without a leader ever since. Mashika turned to the court to compel Wakudumo to sign the form or to approve an alternative means of obtaining a signature for his application, such as allowing another region’s governor to sign it and forward it to the line ministry for consideration. Another alternative proposed by Mashika is for the Kavango East deputy sheriff to be accorded the powers to sign the application.

Urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni and the Gciriku traditional authority are listed as the second and third respondents in the case, while Judge Nate Ndauendapo is presiding.

The court proceedings were launched in July last year, when Mashika resorted to legal action after Wakudumo refused to sign his application on two occasions.

- Kenya Kambowe