King refuses to be seen
A weekend vigil planned by hundreds of Ondonga community members at the Ondonga palace has been called off.
King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas refused a demand by hundreds of his followers to see him.
The rejection was announced in a press release issued by the king's spokesperson, Naeman Amalwa.
One of the organisers of this weekend's planned vigil at the Ondonga palace, Pendapala Nakathingo, said they called off the gathering after receiving the communication from the king.
Nakathingo said they were informed that the palace at Onamugundo is not Ondonga Traditional Authority property, but a private residence for the king and his wife.
“Our gathering was a peaceful one and we wanted to see the king. After receiving a communication stating that the king refused to see us we decided not to go ahead with the gathering,” Nakathingo said.
Hundreds of Ondonga community members were planning a three-day vigil at the palace at Onamugundo, starting today, and their demand was to be addressed by King Elifas.
“There are many procedures to see the king or visit the palace, but the one you suggested is not appropriate. The king respects your request, however, he refuses to see you,” read the statement.
“The king's words are final and binding and if you proceed with your action you are doing it against the king's will,” it continued.
Asked about the palace, Amalwa said that after realising last year that the palace did not belong to the traditional authority, they started raising funds to build a new palace for the Ondonga kingdom where the old King Nangolo dhaAmutenya's palace was.
“We are busy with plans to construct an Ondonga palace that will be housing all the kings of Ondonga. Onamungudo palace is a private home for the king and his wife. We were not supposed to use a private residence as a palace,” Amalwa said.
The tribal infighting stems from a succession race, which took a major twist in April this year after 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.
In July this year Elifas ordered the dismissal of senior traditional councillors including former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma and former spokesperson Joseph Asino.
Four councillors were also given their marching orders by Elifas.
They included senior headman John Walenga and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya. Three other councillors - Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili – were also dismissed.
A faction close to the king's wife has been accused of capitalising on his poor health to suspend and fire councillors.
The lawyers representing the fired councillors have particularly questioned the signature stamp used by the traditional authority in their correspondence announcing the firing and hiring of new councillors.
ILENI NANDJATO
King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas refused a demand by hundreds of his followers to see him.
The rejection was announced in a press release issued by the king's spokesperson, Naeman Amalwa.
One of the organisers of this weekend's planned vigil at the Ondonga palace, Pendapala Nakathingo, said they called off the gathering after receiving the communication from the king.
Nakathingo said they were informed that the palace at Onamugundo is not Ondonga Traditional Authority property, but a private residence for the king and his wife.
“Our gathering was a peaceful one and we wanted to see the king. After receiving a communication stating that the king refused to see us we decided not to go ahead with the gathering,” Nakathingo said.
Hundreds of Ondonga community members were planning a three-day vigil at the palace at Onamugundo, starting today, and their demand was to be addressed by King Elifas.
“There are many procedures to see the king or visit the palace, but the one you suggested is not appropriate. The king respects your request, however, he refuses to see you,” read the statement.
“The king's words are final and binding and if you proceed with your action you are doing it against the king's will,” it continued.
Asked about the palace, Amalwa said that after realising last year that the palace did not belong to the traditional authority, they started raising funds to build a new palace for the Ondonga kingdom where the old King Nangolo dhaAmutenya's palace was.
“We are busy with plans to construct an Ondonga palace that will be housing all the kings of Ondonga. Onamungudo palace is a private home for the king and his wife. We were not supposed to use a private residence as a palace,” Amalwa said.
The tribal infighting stems from a succession race, which took a major twist in April this year after 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.
In July this year Elifas ordered the dismissal of senior traditional councillors including former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma and former spokesperson Joseph Asino.
Four councillors were also given their marching orders by Elifas.
They included senior headman John Walenga and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya. Three other councillors - Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili – were also dismissed.
A faction close to the king's wife has been accused of capitalising on his poor health to suspend and fire councillors.
The lawyers representing the fired councillors have particularly questioned the signature stamp used by the traditional authority in their correspondence announcing the firing and hiring of new councillors.
ILENI NANDJATO
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article