Plot thickens in Ondonga game of thrones

ILENI NANDJATO

The ugly Ondonga succession battle is reaching unprecedented heights, following the death of Omukwaniilwa Immanuel Kauluma Elifas.

Last week two heirs apparent to the throne, Oscar Sheehama and Konisa Eino Kalenga, launched an urgent application in the High Court to interdict Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo from acting as if he is the appointed successor to the late king, who is yet to be laid to rest following his death on 26 March.

The duo want to restrain Nangolo, who was named as Elifas’ successor in 2002, from purporting in any way to be the heir apparent.

King Elifas will be laid to rest this weekend at Olukonda.

Among those who have submitted affidavits in the court application are dismissed Ondonga Traditional Authority senior headman Boas Mweendeleli, the late king’s wife Sesilia Ndapandula Elifas and royal family elders Aili Kazimo Petrus and Selma Gwanandjokwe Sheyavali.

Mweendeleli (78), a former senior headman for Oniimwandi, was dismissed by Elifas in 2011.

He indicated in his affidavit that Nangolo was appointed as Elifas’ deputy and not his successor.

He claimed this appointment was not done by Elifas, and that it took place in 2004 and not 2002.

“I confirm that I authored the letter dated 5 October 2004. In addition, I point out that with regard to that letter, the appointment of Nangolo did not come at the instance of the late Omukwaniilwa. I assert that it was not the late Omukwaniilwa that decided on his own to appoint Nangolo. Senior traditional councillors, including myself, are the ones that initiated the appointment,” Mweendeleli said in his affidavit.

“We initiated the appointment on the basis that there was a vacant seat that was left vacant when the late Andreas Josef died.”

He said the councillors had approached the late king to endorse the appointment.

“I am not aware of the alleged nomination of 2002. I was the full-time secretary of the council at the time and did not come across such a nomination or appointment,” explained Mweendeleli.

Sheyavali (73) indicated that on 14 April 2017 a meeting was held by prominent royal family members Neema Nakale Andreas, Kandali Auala, Esther Kwedhi, Kalenga and Aili Kazimo Petrus.

The meeting, which was witnessed by Nepando Amupanda and Sakaria Kanzi, endorsed Elifas’ decision to revoke the appointment of Nangolo.

“The decision to revoke Nangolo’s appointment was brought to my attention shortly after the traditional authority resolved to bring an urgent application against the king.

“I submit that royal family structures gathered to discuss the underlying factors of the court bid and the royal family elders present collectively agreed to revoke the appointment,” said Sheyavali

“The revoking was done due to what is considered as a betrayal by the late king’s supposed royal deputy (Nangolo), resulting in an irreparable breakdown of trust between him and the late Elifas.”

Sheyavali said she is aware that the revocation was signed and stamped by the late king on 13 April 2017, for the purpose of endorsement by the elders a day later.

She added the succession process is primarily approved by the royal family members and not the senior headmen

“The decision of the elders of the royal family is final. Furthermore, Ondonga customs dictate that succession must be from the top to bottom, from the eldest to the youngest of the same level (generation) and not otherwise.

“With regard to the current issues regarding the alleged right to the succession of Nangolo, he is three generations from the late King Elifas; there is a generation between him and the late King Elifas. The level of eligible successors to the late king in terms of our customs are the members of second generation, not the third generation,” Sheyavali argued in her affidavit.

Among the 18 respondents are Nangolo, royal family members, the traditional authority and the ministry of urban and rural development.

Sheehama and Kalenga also want the court to interdict and restrain Nangolo from “performing or participating in or from continuing with or from giving effect to any ritual or any preparatory step that is regarded under Ondonga customary law or that has that effect under Ondonga customary law to be a ritual or preparatory step to be installed or to be coronated as a king or as a successor to the late king of the Ondonga nation, in contravention of the provisions of section 4(1)(a) of the Traditional Authorities Act”.

The faction supporting Nangolo is expected to oppose the application.