Headman clarifies Oniimwandi meeting

Iikokola village headman I-Ben Nashandi has clarified an article titled 'Amalwa jumps ship' that appeared in Namibian Sun on Tuesday.

This newspaper reported on a meeting held in the Oniimwandi district, which is headed by senior councillor Naeman Amalwa. According to the article, Amalwa urged the people of his district to rally behind Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo as the new Ondonga king.

An invitation to attend the official coronation ceremony, which is taking place this Saturday, was also extended.

However, Nashandi took issue with the article, saying Amalwa's message was delivered by him and not by Uno Nashandi as stated in the article.

The meeting was attended by all but one of the cluster heads. He said the message he gave on behalf of Amalwa was to inform the district of the invitation extended to Amalwa from Ondonga Traditional Authority secretary Joseph Asino, inviting him to attend the coronation at Onambango the following weekend.

Nashandi clarified that he went to the meeting as headman of Iikokola village, not as an envoy of the senior headman.

“The reference to Uno Nashandi, as well as attributing words to me which I never said in the article of Tuesday points to lack of verifiable facts in the article and unethical reporting,” he said.

Staff Reporter