King's son-in-law blames Walenga in apology

Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas's son-in-law, Petrus Shambo Martin, yesterday apologised to the royal family for offensive remarks that he had made during a recorded telephone conversation that went viral on social media.

The comments made during a conversation with a friend in May were deemed “disrespectful, slanderous and false” by the Ondonga Traditional Authority in a statement issued in June.

In the same statement, the traditional authority dismissed Martin, who is married to one of the king's daughters, as headman of Okadhimeti village and traditional councillor for Onyelelo in the Ondangwa district.

At a media briefing in Ondangwa yesterday, Martin blamed fired senior councillor for Ondangwa district John Walenga for leaking the recording.







He said he had wanted to apologise to the king, but was denied access by the traditional authority.

“I called the Ondonga Traditional Authority requesting an audience with the king, who is also my father-in-law. They told me that it was fine and I travelled from Windhoek,” he said yesterday under heavy guard.



“On Wednesday when I was ready to go see the king, I met the king's new councillors, but they told me that they could only grant me permission to see the king if I apologised publicly for the offensive remarks I had made in the audio. They also forced me to make the apology in writing.”



Martin said he didn't organise the media briefing, adding that he didn't need journalists to apologise to the king.



“I never requested this media briefing, but it was [done] by force. What I requested was an audience with the king, who is also my father-in-law. My wife and children also want to have an audience with their father and grandfather. I do not need media to do so,” Martin said.



He further questioned why the event was not held at the Ondonga palace.



The traditional authority's representatives - Oscar Sheehama and recently appointed senior councillor of Amuteya district Jerry Kambala - declined to comment during the media conference.



Martin said he was betrayed by Walenga. He accused Walenga of circulating the audio recording in order to advance his agenda against the Ondonga royal family.



“I suspect him because during this conversation I was with him in his office. After I finished talking he told me to send him the recording and later I was told that the recording went viral on social media. I called him to ask why he did that, but he said that it was already done,” he said.







Denial



Approached for comment, Walenga denied that such a recording was made in his office.



“There are several audios denouncing me and how can I allow him to say such things about me while in my office? This is news to me and I never knew he was like that as a leader,” Walenga said.



Walenga continued that Martin called him on Wednesday and yesterday morning informing him that the Ondonga Traditional Authority had forced him to issue an apology.



“He told me that he was going to apologise and he also gave me his reasons why he is doing it. I told him that if it is fine with him, he can go ahead with it. I am not involved in this and I am surprised to hear all these.”