Presidency denies treating chiefs differently
The presidency reacted to yesterday's editorial in Namibian Sun about how the head of state engages traditional leaders.
State House yesterday denied assertions that President Hage Geingob has been selective in the manner he paid courtesies to the country's traditional leaders. The head of state visited Omukwaniilwa of Ondonga Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo on Saturday, who was only coronated eight months ago.
Members of the public took to social media to express their feelings against what they perceive to be partisan courtesy calls to traditional leaders. They pointed out that the president has never visited other palaces in the country, especially those located south of the so-called veterinary cordon fence.
Reacting to an editorial in yesterday's edition of Namibian Sun on the same subject, presidential spokesperson Dr Alfredo Hengari enumerated several meetings the president has had with traditional authorities, but none of which took place at a palace of such leaders.
“It is why leaders of traditional authorities participated in large numbers in the town hall meetings of the president in 2015/16 and most recently in July/August 2019. Also, President Geingob, upon request of traditional leaders, had meetings with the authorities on the margins of the formal town hall meetings,” Hengari said.
In 2016, President Geingob was at Ondonga palace, home to the deceased Omukwaniilwa Kauluma Elifas at the time, to attend the annual Omagongo Festival.
The same year, he was a no-show at the Damara Traditional and Cultural Festival held at Okombahe, where he was scheduled to speak. Hengari pointed out that on 29 July 2017, President Geingob delivered the keynote address at the Masubia Annual Cultural Festival at Bukalo village, “which further attests to the fair and open manner with which President Geingob engages with all traditional authorities”.
When Omukwaniilwa Kauluma died last March, Geingob visited the palace. There is no record of the head of state having visited homes of other traditional leaders who died during his presidency.
STAFF REPORTER
Members of the public took to social media to express their feelings against what they perceive to be partisan courtesy calls to traditional leaders. They pointed out that the president has never visited other palaces in the country, especially those located south of the so-called veterinary cordon fence.
Reacting to an editorial in yesterday's edition of Namibian Sun on the same subject, presidential spokesperson Dr Alfredo Hengari enumerated several meetings the president has had with traditional authorities, but none of which took place at a palace of such leaders.
“It is why leaders of traditional authorities participated in large numbers in the town hall meetings of the president in 2015/16 and most recently in July/August 2019. Also, President Geingob, upon request of traditional leaders, had meetings with the authorities on the margins of the formal town hall meetings,” Hengari said.
In 2016, President Geingob was at Ondonga palace, home to the deceased Omukwaniilwa Kauluma Elifas at the time, to attend the annual Omagongo Festival.
The same year, he was a no-show at the Damara Traditional and Cultural Festival held at Okombahe, where he was scheduled to speak. Hengari pointed out that on 29 July 2017, President Geingob delivered the keynote address at the Masubia Annual Cultural Festival at Bukalo village, “which further attests to the fair and open manner with which President Geingob engages with all traditional authorities”.
When Omukwaniilwa Kauluma died last March, Geingob visited the palace. There is no record of the head of state having visited homes of other traditional leaders who died during his presidency.
STAFF REPORTER
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