Ondonga king dragged to court
Six fired councillors of the Ondonga Traditional Authority have approached the High Court to challenge their dismissal by king Immanuel Kauluma Elifas.
The councillors hope to get an interdict against the traditional authority not to pursue their dismissal pending the finalisation of the application.
In July this year Elifas ordered the dismissal of senior traditional councillors including former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma and former spokesperson Joseph Asino.
The senior headman for Ondangwa district, John Walenga, and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya were also expelled from the traditional authority. The other dismissed councillors are Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.
Businessmen Erastus Mvula and Paavo Amweele replaced Walenga as senior headmen responsible for the Ondangwa district, while Rainhold Nepolo was named to replace Asino in the Oniiwe district.
Naeman Kambala took over from Kamanya in the Amuteya district, while former President Sam Nujoma's bodyguard Nepando Amupanda took over from Peter Kauluma in the Ongula yaNetanga district.
Nepando also acts as secretary of the Ondonga Traditional Council.
In court papers, the dismissed councillors argue that their disciplinary hearings, which were done in their absence, were irregular.
The six applicants claim that they are entitled to resume their positions with immediate effect.
The king's spokesperson, Naeman Amalwa, said they were shocked by the latest legal action taken against the traditional authority.
“Taking the king to court is taboo and it was never done before. Everybody is shocked and even the Ondonga leadership experts are shocked and never heard of it before. The king's legal team is busy drafting a response to what they are requesting. We will respond in due course,” Amalwa said.
ILENI NANDJATO
The councillors hope to get an interdict against the traditional authority not to pursue their dismissal pending the finalisation of the application.
In July this year Elifas ordered the dismissal of senior traditional councillors including former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma and former spokesperson Joseph Asino.
The senior headman for Ondangwa district, John Walenga, and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya were also expelled from the traditional authority. The other dismissed councillors are Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.
Businessmen Erastus Mvula and Paavo Amweele replaced Walenga as senior headmen responsible for the Ondangwa district, while Rainhold Nepolo was named to replace Asino in the Oniiwe district.
Naeman Kambala took over from Kamanya in the Amuteya district, while former President Sam Nujoma's bodyguard Nepando Amupanda took over from Peter Kauluma in the Ongula yaNetanga district.
Nepando also acts as secretary of the Ondonga Traditional Council.
In court papers, the dismissed councillors argue that their disciplinary hearings, which were done in their absence, were irregular.
The six applicants claim that they are entitled to resume their positions with immediate effect.
The king's spokesperson, Naeman Amalwa, said they were shocked by the latest legal action taken against the traditional authority.
“Taking the king to court is taboo and it was never done before. Everybody is shocked and even the Ondonga leadership experts are shocked and never heard of it before. The king's legal team is busy drafting a response to what they are requesting. We will respond in due course,” Amalwa said.
ILENI NANDJATO
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