Ondonga infighting continues unabated
The Ondonga Traditional Authority has withdrawn an urgent court application that had sought to interdict the inauguration of Ester Gwashamba Nepando as the new senior headman of the Uukwanambwa District.
The urgent application was withdrawn late on Monday following a demonstration by a group supporting Nepando.
A meeting by the Ondonga King's Council last month resolved that Nepando's appointment as a senior councillor was illegal and not procedural.
Nepando was named as the new senior councillor in the place of Wilbard Lidker, who had been fired in February. Nepando, the king's wife Secilia, Sheehama, and urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa were listed as respondents. King Elifas was also listed as a respondent in the matter – which appears to have irked supporters of Nepando.
OTA secretary Joseph Asino confirmed the withdrawal of the court application, but declined to comment on the reasons behind such a decision.
“Yes is true that we withdrew our court application and that is all I can say at the moment,” Asino said yesterday.
The traditional authority is reportedly split into two factions, with one supporting the nomination of Shuumbwa Nangolo as Ondonga kingdom heir apparent, while another grouping, opposing Nangolo's nomination, is led by the king's wife.
According to sources, Nangolo only came learn about Nepando's inauguration from some senior councillors as the matter had not been officially communicated to him.
“We are just in the dark here and Nangolo was supposed to inform us. When Lidker was fired it was communicated to us by senior councillors closer to kuku Secilia and they are the same people who communicated to us about the appointment of Nepando.
“Since the withdrawal of the court application we do not know if they are going ahead with the inauguration and who is going to do her installation on behalf of the king and who is going to represent OTA,” the source said.
Onandjamba's village headman Jerry Kambala, who was part of Monday's demonstration, refused to talk to Namibian Sun on the way forward.
Queen hits back
The OTA has long been alleging that the king's wife Secilia is meddling in the traditional affairs of the kingdom. She has reportedly been taking advantage of her ailing husband to interfere in the day-to-day running of the traditional authority.
“Since she is the only person who communicates s to the king regularly, she was supposed to consult Nangolo as the king's representative and (Peter) Kauluma as OTA chairperson before endorsing the decision. But she opted to use certain groups of individuals, some of whom are not OTA councillors,” the source maintained.
Secilia denied the allegations in an interview with Namibian Sun, saying she had been closely following the developments as well as the accusations against her by the OTA.
“Ask how many letters I wrote to the OTA demanding for them to call me to appear before them. If allegations they are making against me are true why are they not summoning me before them? Instead they are continuing to accuse me,” said Secilia.
For its part, the OTA said they refused to take any action against her to protect her from potential embarrassment. “We do not want to summon our own queen. It will be a big embarrassment for us and the whole Ondonga,” the OTA said.
ILENI NANDJATO
The urgent application was withdrawn late on Monday following a demonstration by a group supporting Nepando.
A meeting by the Ondonga King's Council last month resolved that Nepando's appointment as a senior councillor was illegal and not procedural.
Nepando was named as the new senior councillor in the place of Wilbard Lidker, who had been fired in February. Nepando, the king's wife Secilia, Sheehama, and urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa were listed as respondents. King Elifas was also listed as a respondent in the matter – which appears to have irked supporters of Nepando.
OTA secretary Joseph Asino confirmed the withdrawal of the court application, but declined to comment on the reasons behind such a decision.
“Yes is true that we withdrew our court application and that is all I can say at the moment,” Asino said yesterday.
The traditional authority is reportedly split into two factions, with one supporting the nomination of Shuumbwa Nangolo as Ondonga kingdom heir apparent, while another grouping, opposing Nangolo's nomination, is led by the king's wife.
According to sources, Nangolo only came learn about Nepando's inauguration from some senior councillors as the matter had not been officially communicated to him.
“We are just in the dark here and Nangolo was supposed to inform us. When Lidker was fired it was communicated to us by senior councillors closer to kuku Secilia and they are the same people who communicated to us about the appointment of Nepando.
“Since the withdrawal of the court application we do not know if they are going ahead with the inauguration and who is going to do her installation on behalf of the king and who is going to represent OTA,” the source said.
Onandjamba's village headman Jerry Kambala, who was part of Monday's demonstration, refused to talk to Namibian Sun on the way forward.
Queen hits back
The OTA has long been alleging that the king's wife Secilia is meddling in the traditional affairs of the kingdom. She has reportedly been taking advantage of her ailing husband to interfere in the day-to-day running of the traditional authority.
“Since she is the only person who communicates s to the king regularly, she was supposed to consult Nangolo as the king's representative and (Peter) Kauluma as OTA chairperson before endorsing the decision. But she opted to use certain groups of individuals, some of whom are not OTA councillors,” the source maintained.
Secilia denied the allegations in an interview with Namibian Sun, saying she had been closely following the developments as well as the accusations against her by the OTA.
“Ask how many letters I wrote to the OTA demanding for them to call me to appear before them. If allegations they are making against me are true why are they not summoning me before them? Instead they are continuing to accuse me,” said Secilia.
For its part, the OTA said they refused to take any action against her to protect her from potential embarrassment. “We do not want to summon our own queen. It will be a big embarrassment for us and the whole Ondonga,” the OTA said.
ILENI NANDJATO
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