Oukwanyama dissidents called to order

The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority has threatened 22 dissident subjects with legal action for reportedly violating a court order.

Lawyer Silas Kishi Shakumu, who is representing the traditional authority, claimed the group of dissidents was causing havoc within the Oukwanyama jurisdiction, particularly in the Oshikunde and Omundaungilo constituencies where they were accused of illegally appointing village headmen and allocating land.

The traditional authority claims the group led by Thomas Haihambo and former senior headman for Ongha George Hikumwah have presided over the illegal instalment of new village headmen at Omundaungilo, Oshipala, Ondwi, Onamungondji, Omhalapapa and Epasha.





They reportedly appointed new headmen without the consent of the traditional authority.

These allegations were made during a media briefing at the queen's palace at Omhedi on Wednesday.

The accused members had been dragged to court by the traditional authority, but both parties opted for an out-of-court settlement.

The group later made a U-turn by claiming that they had been deceived by their legal representative. They also accused the traditional authority of humiliating them, following the out-of-court settlement.

The group reportedly didn't want to be accountable for their action and as a result opted for another out-of-court settlement by vowing not to continue with new appointments.

The agreement was made a court order. However, the traditional authority accused the group of going against the court order by secretly naming new village headmen as well as allocating land.

The accused include Haihambo, Hikumwah, Ndadi Martin, Lydia Namidi, Wilpard Nambahu, Ndeunyema Ndove, Hashikutuva Nghidipo, Moses Ndilenga, Nghifindaka Nghifikwa, Hashipembe Erastus, Nambala Lydia, Mweshitila Jonas, Selma Kaumanwa, Sesilia Naghama and Haukongo Fanuel.

“Anybody who was given a village or land by these people must know that your appointment and land allocation is not valid. These people were not appointed by the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority and they have been ordered by the court to stop with their activities,” Shakumu said.

He also claimed that the group was formed last year, almost immediately after the traditional authority scored a Supreme Court victory against three village heads who had been fired in 2013. Hikumwah was one of the three dismissed headmen who had dragged Oukwanyama Queen Mwadinomho Martha ya Kristian Nelumbu to court for unfair dismissal.

“They also created their own OTA date stamps which they use to administer their authorities. We took the matter to the High Court and then through their legal representative they opted for an out-of-court settlement,” Shakumu said.

The traditional authority has threatened to lay contempt of court charges against the 22 members if they continue with their illegal activities.

“They came back to us claiming that OTA had humiliated them, that they surrendered and therefore, they were not part of that agreement anymore.

“On 5 June 2017 we went back to the High Court to make another order which was made an order of court on 21 June 2017 stating that they will in future not interfere with affairs of the traditional authority,” he said.

Attempts to reach Hikumwah proved futile as his phone went unanswered.

ILENI NANDJATO