Row over Ondonga throne
The Ondonga Traditional Authority introduced Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo as the king-in-waiting despite rumblings from within the royal family.
The first 2017 all Aandonga annual meeting has for the first time introduced Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo to the Ondonga community as King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas's appointed successor and representative.
The Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) announced to the community that King Elifas has appointed Nangolo as his representative wherever he is needed to prepare him for a smooth succession.
The meeting was held over the weekend at OTA's hall in Ondangwa and was chaired by the OTA council's chairperson, Peter Kauluma. It was attended by OTA secretary Joseph Asino, OTA council members, senior headmen for all ten OTA districts, village headmen and Ondonga community members. The meeting also afforded Nangolo his first chance to talk to his subjects.
“I am inviting the one who is appointed by King Elifas as his successor and representative to welcome us to this meeting on behalf of the king,” director Joseph Akawa announced.
Nangolo welcomed those in attendance and informed them that Ondonga belongs to everybody who lives within its boundaries and therefore, everybody is welcome to give advice or ask questions.
“I am hereby welcoming you to this gathering on behalf of King Elifas who is not in our midst. This meeting is aimed at advising and educating each other on pertinent issues that the OTA council may not be aware of.
“Let us all feel free to ask questions or give our advice to the OTA leadership and let us also listen very carefully to what we are told here. Thank you very much for coming in big numbers,” said Nangolo.
According to a member of the council who spoke to Namibian Sun after the meeting, the OTA decided to introduce Nangolo in spite of the public meeting that was held at Onamungundo village about three weeks ago and the current public debate that is currently on about the succession issue.
“OTA would like to make the succession issue clear. Nangolo has been appointed by the king as his successor and representative. The Ondonga community and the nation at large needs to know that Nangolo's presence at whatever occasion, is too represent the king, as a king in-waiting,” the member said.
There are challenges to the smooth passing of the baton in the Ondonga royal household. King Elifas's daughter, Katrina, has made it clear that Nangolo may act as her father's representative, but that he cannot ascend to the throne.
“Nangolo was only appointed by my father as his representative and not his successor. Succession will be done by members of the royal family and not by my father's appointment. OTA is just using Nangolo at the expense of my father and what they are doing is wrong,” she told Namibian Sun.
Earlier, on her social media account, she posted that Nangolo is not her father's successor.
“Shuumbwa is NOT by father's successor… PERIOD! Agencies and newspapers, stop being used to mislead the nation by cowards that are failures who now want to become kings overnight… my mom is home, whoever is mandated go there and don't forget your weapon (newspapers). Or are you scared of her?”
It is alleged that her mother Cecilia, supports her point of view on the matter of succession.
Nampa reported that OTA issued a statement last week that King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas nominated Nangolo as his successor on 20 September 2002 and confirmed the nomination to government on 2 June 2012.
The letter signed by Elifas was addressed to Jerry Ekandjo, the then minister of regional, local government, housing and rural development.
The OTA stated that the 38-year-old Nangolo's nomination was done within the Ondonga traditional norm and had received the blessing of the elders of the royal family and advisors to the king.
It said Nangolo's nomination was done with the purpose of preparing him for the throne and his responsibilities as the future head of the Ondonga tribe.
ILENI NANDJATO
ILENI NANDJATO
The Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) announced to the community that King Elifas has appointed Nangolo as his representative wherever he is needed to prepare him for a smooth succession.
The meeting was held over the weekend at OTA's hall in Ondangwa and was chaired by the OTA council's chairperson, Peter Kauluma. It was attended by OTA secretary Joseph Asino, OTA council members, senior headmen for all ten OTA districts, village headmen and Ondonga community members. The meeting also afforded Nangolo his first chance to talk to his subjects.
“I am inviting the one who is appointed by King Elifas as his successor and representative to welcome us to this meeting on behalf of the king,” director Joseph Akawa announced.
Nangolo welcomed those in attendance and informed them that Ondonga belongs to everybody who lives within its boundaries and therefore, everybody is welcome to give advice or ask questions.
“I am hereby welcoming you to this gathering on behalf of King Elifas who is not in our midst. This meeting is aimed at advising and educating each other on pertinent issues that the OTA council may not be aware of.
“Let us all feel free to ask questions or give our advice to the OTA leadership and let us also listen very carefully to what we are told here. Thank you very much for coming in big numbers,” said Nangolo.
According to a member of the council who spoke to Namibian Sun after the meeting, the OTA decided to introduce Nangolo in spite of the public meeting that was held at Onamungundo village about three weeks ago and the current public debate that is currently on about the succession issue.
“OTA would like to make the succession issue clear. Nangolo has been appointed by the king as his successor and representative. The Ondonga community and the nation at large needs to know that Nangolo's presence at whatever occasion, is too represent the king, as a king in-waiting,” the member said.
There are challenges to the smooth passing of the baton in the Ondonga royal household. King Elifas's daughter, Katrina, has made it clear that Nangolo may act as her father's representative, but that he cannot ascend to the throne.
“Nangolo was only appointed by my father as his representative and not his successor. Succession will be done by members of the royal family and not by my father's appointment. OTA is just using Nangolo at the expense of my father and what they are doing is wrong,” she told Namibian Sun.
Earlier, on her social media account, she posted that Nangolo is not her father's successor.
“Shuumbwa is NOT by father's successor… PERIOD! Agencies and newspapers, stop being used to mislead the nation by cowards that are failures who now want to become kings overnight… my mom is home, whoever is mandated go there and don't forget your weapon (newspapers). Or are you scared of her?”
It is alleged that her mother Cecilia, supports her point of view on the matter of succession.
Nampa reported that OTA issued a statement last week that King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas nominated Nangolo as his successor on 20 September 2002 and confirmed the nomination to government on 2 June 2012.
The letter signed by Elifas was addressed to Jerry Ekandjo, the then minister of regional, local government, housing and rural development.
The OTA stated that the 38-year-old Nangolo's nomination was done within the Ondonga traditional norm and had received the blessing of the elders of the royal family and advisors to the king.
It said Nangolo's nomination was done with the purpose of preparing him for the throne and his responsibilities as the future head of the Ondonga tribe.
ILENI NANDJATO
ILENI NANDJATO
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