King Nangolo prevails

The bitter battle over the Ondonga kingship ended yesterday when the government recognised Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo as the 19th king of the traditional authority. Nangolo takes over from the late Omukwaniilwa Immanuel Kau?luma Elifas, who died in March this year. Nangolo (44) has long been considered heir apparent to Elifas and was named as his successor and deputy in 2002 already. However, a section of the royal family disputed this and preferred Elifas's nephew, Konis Kalenga, as the next king. Urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga said yesterday that Kalenga's application for designation as the next Ondonga king did not pass the verification process. On 14 April this year, a traditional ritual was performed to crown Nangolo as the new king at his Onambango homestead, while the roya?l family inaugurated Kalenga. “It is true that I approved Nangolo's application. You can only recognise one omukwaniilwa and I also have only approved one. The Act provides that the application must go through verification and the governor also needs to do the verification. When it gets to me, only one application could pass the verification and that is for Nangolo,” said Mushelenga. Preparations are now in full swing for the official coronation set to take place on 29 June at Onambango outside Ondangwa. At the time of going to print, no comment could be obtained from the senior elder of the royal family, Selma Gwanandjokwe Sheyavali, whose faction had appointed Kalenga. The gazetted leaders of the OTA, most of them Nangolo supporters, were reportedly in a meeting and could not be reached for comment.ILENI NANDJATO

King Nangolo prevails

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-21

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King Nangolo prevails

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-21

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