Ondonga in the dark

With only three days to go, the divided Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) is not yet sure who will represent it at the second national land conference.Although the OTA is on the list of traditional authorities that will participate at the conference, neither of its rival factions has received the invitation.The affairs of the OTA are being run at two separate offices since King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas replaced seven of his long-serving top aides last year in fallout over the royal succession issue.Elifas got rid of former OTA chairperson Peter Kauluma, former OTA spokesperson Joseph Asino, senior headman John Walenga, former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili. These leaders, who are officially recognised by the government, went ahead and established an office at Oniipa led by one of the claimants to the Ondonga throne, Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo.Elifas replaced them with new councillors, including founding president Sam Nujoma's former bodyguard, Nepando Amupanda, who is the new OTA secretary. They operate from the old traditional authority offices at Oluno.When Namibian Sun contacted Amupanda yesterday to ask who the three OTA delegates to the land conference were, he said he had not seen the invitation and did not know who would attend.“Maybe we have received the invitation, I have not seen it. King Elifas will decide by himself who he will send to the conference, I am not sure whom he has delegated,” Amupanda said.The other faction's Kamanya also said that they had not received any invitation by yesterday, but were ready to represent Ondonga and the king.“Even yesterday I was making queries regarding that invitation and we just do not know where it went missing. I am still following up because we were informed that it had been sent to us and we are ready for the conference,” Kamanya said.The traditional authority is currently embroiled in a court case initiated by the fired councillors.Last month Judge Maphios Cheda ordered King Elifas to give oral testimony in the Oshakati High Court.The tension reached new heights when President Hage Geingob summoned the two groups to State House. The urgent meeting followed closely on the heels of former president Nujoma's meeting with Elifas.ILENI NANDJATO

Ondonga in the dark

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-18

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Ondonga in the dark

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-18

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