Ondonga heir apparent hits back at Mushelenga
One of the claimants to the Ondonga throne, Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo, has taken issue with urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga following his recent remarks in which he described the decision to relocate the traditional authority offices to Oniipa as 'lawlessness'.
On 20 March Nangolo had written to Mushelenga as the minister responsible for traditional authorities, informing him of a decision to relocate the authority's offices from Oluno to Oniipa.
Mushelenga, however, replied on 23 March saying it was lawless.
Nangolo further responded that the idea to relocate the office was initiated by the community.
“The Ondonga community as they are lawfully entitled demanded that the office be relocated in order to enable continued operations. It came as a shock to the Ondonga community that the honourable minister regards the action of the community as lawlessness. The community in its decision to relocate office did so having regard to Section 3(1) of the Act and after having received legal advice,” Nangolo said.
Nangolo said his letter was not to seek permission from Mushelenga to relocate the office, but to communicate the decision of the community as permitted in terms of the Act.
“I addressed my letter to you in my capacity as the deputy chief duly appointed by the king. It is therefore important to acknowledge and confirm that King Elifas is still alive and he is the head of the Ondonga. It is a common cause that I have been delegated as a deputy chief in 2002 and have since performed such duties and responsibilities assigned to me by the king,” he said.
“I would therefore fail in my duty if I do not assure the honourable minister that the Ondonga community, headed by myself as the deputy chief, would not engage in any act of unlawfulness. I therefore invite you to engage with me on the many assumptions and accusations made in your letter,” he said.
Nangolo was also not happy with Mushelenga's statement that a court case lodged by the dismissed councillors was struck from the court roll on 19 March. Nangolo informed Mushelenga that he is not part of such a legal challenge and the case has not been struck but it was postponed to 14 May for case management.
Mushelenga, who is also the village headman for Oshigambo within the Ondonga jurisdiction, told Namibian Sun this week that justice minister Sacky Shanghala has already met with the warring factions and has submitted a report to cabinet.
“What they are seeking is an audience with the government and the justice minister has already met them. He compiled a report that he presented to cabinet. What I need to do is to consult the minister instead of meeting them,” Mushelenga said.
Nangolo, who was named as successor by ailing king Immanuel Kauluma Elifas back in 2002, enjoys the support of a rival group within the traditional authority.
His supporters include mainly senior and ordinary councillors that were dismissed by Elifas last year over the succession issue. Nangolo's nomination is being challenged by the royal family.
ILENI NANDJATO
On 20 March Nangolo had written to Mushelenga as the minister responsible for traditional authorities, informing him of a decision to relocate the authority's offices from Oluno to Oniipa.
Mushelenga, however, replied on 23 March saying it was lawless.
Nangolo further responded that the idea to relocate the office was initiated by the community.
“The Ondonga community as they are lawfully entitled demanded that the office be relocated in order to enable continued operations. It came as a shock to the Ondonga community that the honourable minister regards the action of the community as lawlessness. The community in its decision to relocate office did so having regard to Section 3(1) of the Act and after having received legal advice,” Nangolo said.
Nangolo said his letter was not to seek permission from Mushelenga to relocate the office, but to communicate the decision of the community as permitted in terms of the Act.
“I addressed my letter to you in my capacity as the deputy chief duly appointed by the king. It is therefore important to acknowledge and confirm that King Elifas is still alive and he is the head of the Ondonga. It is a common cause that I have been delegated as a deputy chief in 2002 and have since performed such duties and responsibilities assigned to me by the king,” he said.
“I would therefore fail in my duty if I do not assure the honourable minister that the Ondonga community, headed by myself as the deputy chief, would not engage in any act of unlawfulness. I therefore invite you to engage with me on the many assumptions and accusations made in your letter,” he said.
Nangolo was also not happy with Mushelenga's statement that a court case lodged by the dismissed councillors was struck from the court roll on 19 March. Nangolo informed Mushelenga that he is not part of such a legal challenge and the case has not been struck but it was postponed to 14 May for case management.
Mushelenga, who is also the village headman for Oshigambo within the Ondonga jurisdiction, told Namibian Sun this week that justice minister Sacky Shanghala has already met with the warring factions and has submitted a report to cabinet.
“What they are seeking is an audience with the government and the justice minister has already met them. He compiled a report that he presented to cabinet. What I need to do is to consult the minister instead of meeting them,” Mushelenga said.
Nangolo, who was named as successor by ailing king Immanuel Kauluma Elifas back in 2002, enjoys the support of a rival group within the traditional authority.
His supporters include mainly senior and ordinary councillors that were dismissed by Elifas last year over the succession issue. Nangolo's nomination is being challenged by the royal family.
ILENI NANDJATO
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