Ondonga fires councillors

Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas has ordered the expulsion of seven out of the eight traditional councillors who were suspended in April this year. The dismissed leaders include senior traditional councillors such as former Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) chairperson Peter Kauluma and former OTA spokesperson Joseph Asino.Heavyweights such as senior headman John Walenga and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya were also expelled from the traditional authority.Three other councillors - Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili – have also been dismissed.The announcement was made yesterday by senior traditional councillor and Elifas' spokesperson Naeman Amalwa.The councillors have been dismissed from all Ondonga Traditional Council and correlated traditional duties and positions in Ondonga with immediate effect as from 14 July 2017.Amalwa claimed in a statement disciplinary hearings were held to determine whether or not there were grounds for dismissal based on the suspended councillors' alleged misconduct.Only one councillor Josef Akawa attended the disciplinary hearing, while the other seven failed to attend the inquiry.“The duties to attend the hearing rested in them whereas the duties to ensure substantive and procedural aspects related to the hearing rested onto the initiators, which was executed correctly,” Amalwa said.“Owing to this willful forfeiture of their rights to be heard, the disciplinary hearings have been conducted in their absentia and recommendations were thereafter communicated to the appointing authority who is the Omukwanilwa of Ondonga, the chairperson of the traditional council and the head of the traditional community in terms of the Ondonga customs and the Traditional Authority Act, No.25 of 2000 to make a final decision.”The traditional authority has been rocked by infighting over the years, with the squabbles escalating to an all-time high early this year.The infighting is largely linked to the succession battle of the Ondonga kingdom.The dismissed councillors are backing Shuumbwa Nangolo, who was nominated by the Ondonga king as his heir in September 2012.This is now a bone of contention, with some members of the royal family, including the king's wife, Cecilia Elifas, challenging Nangolo's nomination. Ondonga headman Oscar Sheehama is reportedly the king's wife favoured heir.In May this year, the standoff, mainly between the Ondonga leaders and royal family, led to mounting tension and calls were made for the powers that be, including government, to intervene to help end the impasse.Amalwa confirmed that the succession issue was one of the fundamental factors that led to the dismissal.“It is important for you to know and appreciate that the major underlying factors above and beyond all immediate effects as has been occurring in public domain and which is the motive of their misconduct by these traditional councillors to do what they have done, is the issue of royal succession in the Ondonga traditional community,” he said. New leadersMeanwhile, Elifas has appointed popular northern businessmen Erastus Mvula, popularly known as Mvula Mnyaango, and Paavo Amwele to replace Walenga as senior headmen responsible the Ondangwa district.Rainhold Nepolo has been named to replace Asino at Oniiwe district, while Naeman Kambala will take over from Kamanya as Amuteya. Former President Sam Nujoma's bodyguard Nepando Amupanda will take over from Peter Kauluma at Ongula yaNetanga district, while he will also remain acting secretary of the Ondonga Traditional Council. STAFF REPORTER

Ondonga fires councillors

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-25

Please login to leave a comment

Ondonga fires councillors

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-25

Please login to leave a comment

Login