Councillors defy OTA
The Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) remains in a quagmire of disarray as it is alleged that Vice-President Nickey Iyambo was denied entry to the palace.
To further compound matters, the authority's suspended traditional councillor for the Oshongwe sub-district, Kashona kaMalulu, has opened another can of worms, adding to the chaos currently reigning in the OTA.
Malulu told Namibian Sun that they approached the deputy chairperson of the eight traditional authorities of the north, the chief of Ukwambi, Herman Ndilimani Iipumbu, to intervene in the current strife the authority is experiencing. However, he said Iipumbu met with King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas but never came back to them after the meeting.
Elifas is the chairperson of the eight traditional authorities of the north and their intention was for Iipumbu to liaise with the king and bring an end to the problems of the authority.
“We sent a delegation to him so that he and the other six traditional authorities of the north could help us resolve matters. He promised that he will go to the palace, which he did, but he never came back to us and he also refuses to talk to us. To date, he has never spoken to us on the outcome of his visit to the palace,” Malulu said.
Iipumbu confirmed to Namibian Sun that he was at Onamugundo (Ondonga palace) on 23 April, but he refused to divulge what the visit was about.
“We are busy with the preparations for the Omagongo festival and I will only be able to give you comment after the festival,” Iipumbu said.
Malulu also confirmed that they were reliably informed that the vice-president Dr Nickey Iyambo also went to the Ondonga palace last month, but was denied entry. The purpose of Iyambo's visit is also unknown.
“At that time, we were already out of the OTA office, but there are many people who saw his convoy going into Onamugundo, but it was refused entry.”
The Office of the Vice President could not be reached for comment as his personal assistant Moses Pakote's number was not reachable. However, Namibian Sun spoke to many sources privy to the affairs of Ondonga and the palace, who all confirmed that the vice-president was indeed denied entry.
Kawana's community court meeting
To add fuel to the fire, confusion erupted on Saturday when the suspended OTA secretary, Joseph Asino and suspended senior councillor and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya accompanied Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo to the community court consultative meeting with the justice minister, Albert Kawana, in Ondangwa.
When contacted for comment, Asino and Kamanya said that they were invited to attend the meeting and the invitation went through the OTA offices.
“The invitation letter clearly stipulated who was to attend. I was invited as the OTA secretary, Kamanya as the Ondonga community court judge and Nangolo as Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas's representative,” Asino said.
Contacted for comment, the OTA acting secretary and former bodyguard to Sam Nujoma refused to comment.
“If you want me to comment, you must tell me who your sources are. If not, I am also not going to comment,” Nepando said.
Last month, Elifas wrote a letter to Asino stating that he has suspended him as OTA secretary. The king added that he also suspended OTA council chairperson Peter Kauluma, and senior councillors John Walenga, Tonata Ngulu, Kashona Malulu, Joseph Akawa, Fillemon Nambili and Vilho Kamanya.
Another letter from Elifas was addressed to Nangolo informing him that his nomination as his designated successor was withdrawn.
Malulu said that they are not suspended, only forced out of the OTA offices. He told Namibian Sun that those who took over the OTA offices are not interested in the affairs of the traditional authority, they are only interested in the office.
“How can you suspend someone but you do not appoint a new person to do that work? We are still the ones responsible for the traditional authority's matters at our respective villages and districts. They forced us out of the office and they don't have the interest of the authority at heart,” he said.
ILENI NANDJATO
To further compound matters, the authority's suspended traditional councillor for the Oshongwe sub-district, Kashona kaMalulu, has opened another can of worms, adding to the chaos currently reigning in the OTA.
Malulu told Namibian Sun that they approached the deputy chairperson of the eight traditional authorities of the north, the chief of Ukwambi, Herman Ndilimani Iipumbu, to intervene in the current strife the authority is experiencing. However, he said Iipumbu met with King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas but never came back to them after the meeting.
Elifas is the chairperson of the eight traditional authorities of the north and their intention was for Iipumbu to liaise with the king and bring an end to the problems of the authority.
“We sent a delegation to him so that he and the other six traditional authorities of the north could help us resolve matters. He promised that he will go to the palace, which he did, but he never came back to us and he also refuses to talk to us. To date, he has never spoken to us on the outcome of his visit to the palace,” Malulu said.
Iipumbu confirmed to Namibian Sun that he was at Onamugundo (Ondonga palace) on 23 April, but he refused to divulge what the visit was about.
“We are busy with the preparations for the Omagongo festival and I will only be able to give you comment after the festival,” Iipumbu said.
Malulu also confirmed that they were reliably informed that the vice-president Dr Nickey Iyambo also went to the Ondonga palace last month, but was denied entry. The purpose of Iyambo's visit is also unknown.
“At that time, we were already out of the OTA office, but there are many people who saw his convoy going into Onamugundo, but it was refused entry.”
The Office of the Vice President could not be reached for comment as his personal assistant Moses Pakote's number was not reachable. However, Namibian Sun spoke to many sources privy to the affairs of Ondonga and the palace, who all confirmed that the vice-president was indeed denied entry.
Kawana's community court meeting
To add fuel to the fire, confusion erupted on Saturday when the suspended OTA secretary, Joseph Asino and suspended senior councillor and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya accompanied Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo to the community court consultative meeting with the justice minister, Albert Kawana, in Ondangwa.
When contacted for comment, Asino and Kamanya said that they were invited to attend the meeting and the invitation went through the OTA offices.
“The invitation letter clearly stipulated who was to attend. I was invited as the OTA secretary, Kamanya as the Ondonga community court judge and Nangolo as Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas's representative,” Asino said.
Contacted for comment, the OTA acting secretary and former bodyguard to Sam Nujoma refused to comment.
“If you want me to comment, you must tell me who your sources are. If not, I am also not going to comment,” Nepando said.
Last month, Elifas wrote a letter to Asino stating that he has suspended him as OTA secretary. The king added that he also suspended OTA council chairperson Peter Kauluma, and senior councillors John Walenga, Tonata Ngulu, Kashona Malulu, Joseph Akawa, Fillemon Nambili and Vilho Kamanya.
Another letter from Elifas was addressed to Nangolo informing him that his nomination as his designated successor was withdrawn.
Malulu said that they are not suspended, only forced out of the OTA offices. He told Namibian Sun that those who took over the OTA offices are not interested in the affairs of the traditional authority, they are only interested in the office.
“How can you suspend someone but you do not appoint a new person to do that work? We are still the ones responsible for the traditional authority's matters at our respective villages and districts. They forced us out of the office and they don't have the interest of the authority at heart,” he said.
ILENI NANDJATO
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