Aandonga 'confused' by leadership dispute

Ondonga community members say they are confused about the ongoing leadership battle within the traditional authority. This was one of the concerns that came out of Saturday's meeting in Ondangwa organised by the dismissed senior leaders of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, which was attended by close to 500 people. Community members said they didn't know who to report their problems to anymore, as two groups were now fighting for control of the traditional authority. The infighting stems from the succession race, which took a major twist in April this year after king Immanuel Kauluma Elifas denounced his supposed successor, Fillemon Nangolo Shuumbwa, even though he had written to the Ministry of Rural and Urban Development in 2002 naming Shuumbwa as his successor. The six fired councillors have since approached the High Court to challenge their dismissal by Elifas in July. They are: former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma, former spokesperson Joseph Asino, the senior headman for Ondangwa district, John Walenga, former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili. They were replaced after they failed to turn up at a disciplinary hearing, which they claim was not properly constituted. Saturday's meeting was also attended by the legal team representing the dismissed councillors in their case against the Ondonga king and the councillors who replaced them. Lawyer Elize Angula said all attempts by the dismissed councillors to meet with Elifas and explain the legal consequences of their dismissal had failed. Angula said their troubles started when the dismissed councillors challenged the removal of Uukwanambwa district headman Wilbard Lidker, who was replaced by Ester Gwashamba Nepando in February this year. “At the time when I took over the case, the Ondonga Traditional Authority was going to court seeking for urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa to stop the inauguration because it was illegal. By traditional authority regulations the minister has no power to stop the inauguration since she is not the appointing authority. I reviewed their case and advised that we need to have an audience with the king,” Angula said. She added that Kauluma and Asino tried in vain to speak to the king. “Since the firing was done without the councillors' consent, all we wanted was affirmation that it was really him who took that decision. He has all the power to do that, however, he needs to follow traditional authority procedures.” Angula also questioned the signature stamp used by the traditional authority in their correspondence announcing the firing and hiring of new councillors. “They have created a signature stamp for the king and it is the one that was used in all these correspondences. The newly appointed leaders have no power and are not recognised, while the dismissed leaders are still recognised,” she argued. During the meeting an elderly woman appealed to the legal team to finalise the matter urgently and to allow the king to tell the truth when he appears in court. “Our greatest fear is that what if the king dies before he appears before the court. We cannot trust people you are saying are not recognised. We do not know their intentions,” she said. Former deputy minister of mines and energy Henock Ya Kasita urged those who have evidence to come forward and assist the legal team. “Those of you who have evidence must come forward and assist the lawyers. You must not only speak out there, you must come forward, be prepared to assist this team when it is coming to you for consultation,” Ya Kasita said. ILENI NANDJATO

Aandonga 'confused' by leadership dispute

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-15

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Aandonga 'confused' by leadership dispute

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-15

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