Genocide council rapped over knuckles
President Hage Geingob has made it clear that there are no kings, queens or paramount chiefs in a modern democracy.
President Hage Geingob has castigated members of OvaHerero, OvaMbanderu and Nama Council for Dialogue on the 1904 Genocide for asking him to strip Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro's of that title.
Geingob told a delegation that there was no way the government could spend a third of its time on traditional authority disputes while it had larger issues to deal with.
He emphasised that Namibia was a democracy with no place for kingdoms with kings and queens, and that traditional leaders must be referred to as chiefs, using the applicable terms in their language, such as “Gaob” in Damara.
Geingob pointed out that Rukoro himself during his term as attorney-general ruled out the title “paramount chief”.
“Are we going to be bound down with these quarrels about titles? So we said in English there will be no paramount chief. If you have problems [then] go to the court...
“He [Rukoro] is leading people. He has a following... you cannot deny that. You must stand up and challenge him. We cannot be the ones to fight for you. Government is an arbitrator,” he said.
The group yesterday called on the president to discuss some “impediments” in their dealings with the government.
Former cabinet minister Willem Konjore, who spoke on behalf of the group, told the president that Rukoro was “boasting” with his title of paramount chief.
He also criticised the fact that the Government Gazette confirmed Rukoro's status as paramount chief, which he said caused confusion.
According to him the class action brought against the German government over the 1904-08 genocide against the Nama and OvaHerero people demonstrated the real danger Rukoro's paramount chieftaincy could cause.
“A recognised chief allowed to use the title of paramount chief will escalate disputes among our communities, especially OvaHerero and OvaMbanderu people. The ONCD therefore pleads with His Excellency to take steps that would alter this situation in the best interest of 'one Namibia, one nation',” said Konjore.
Rukoro's spokesperson, Bob Kandetu, said they were not privy to the ONCD's concern regarding Rukoro's status and could not comment at this stage.
Chiefs' forum
Konjore also told the president that chiefs working with the office of vice-president Nickey Iyambo were not properly recognised.
According to him the chiefs are simply referred to as an “informal body”.
The chiefs' forum is one of the representative committees established to inform the government's reparation negotiations.
“This kind of treatment of the vice-president plays directly into the hands of our adversaries and provides ammunition to those who want to see the negotiations fail,” said Konjore.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Geingob told a delegation that there was no way the government could spend a third of its time on traditional authority disputes while it had larger issues to deal with.
He emphasised that Namibia was a democracy with no place for kingdoms with kings and queens, and that traditional leaders must be referred to as chiefs, using the applicable terms in their language, such as “Gaob” in Damara.
Geingob pointed out that Rukoro himself during his term as attorney-general ruled out the title “paramount chief”.
“Are we going to be bound down with these quarrels about titles? So we said in English there will be no paramount chief. If you have problems [then] go to the court...
“He [Rukoro] is leading people. He has a following... you cannot deny that. You must stand up and challenge him. We cannot be the ones to fight for you. Government is an arbitrator,” he said.
The group yesterday called on the president to discuss some “impediments” in their dealings with the government.
Former cabinet minister Willem Konjore, who spoke on behalf of the group, told the president that Rukoro was “boasting” with his title of paramount chief.
He also criticised the fact that the Government Gazette confirmed Rukoro's status as paramount chief, which he said caused confusion.
According to him the class action brought against the German government over the 1904-08 genocide against the Nama and OvaHerero people demonstrated the real danger Rukoro's paramount chieftaincy could cause.
“A recognised chief allowed to use the title of paramount chief will escalate disputes among our communities, especially OvaHerero and OvaMbanderu people. The ONCD therefore pleads with His Excellency to take steps that would alter this situation in the best interest of 'one Namibia, one nation',” said Konjore.
Rukoro's spokesperson, Bob Kandetu, said they were not privy to the ONCD's concern regarding Rukoro's status and could not comment at this stage.
Chiefs' forum
Konjore also told the president that chiefs working with the office of vice-president Nickey Iyambo were not properly recognised.
According to him the chiefs are simply referred to as an “informal body”.
The chiefs' forum is one of the representative committees established to inform the government's reparation negotiations.
“This kind of treatment of the vice-president plays directly into the hands of our adversaries and provides ammunition to those who want to see the negotiations fail,” said Konjore.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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