Rukoro elected OvaHerero paramount chief

Advocate Vekuii Rukoro was yesterday elected as paramount chief of the OvaHerero under the OvaHerero Traditional Authority. He succeeds the late paramount chief Kuaima Riruako, who died in June. Rukoro was elected during the OvaHerero Chiefs' Council gathering at Ehungiro, located some 30km north of Otjinene in the Omaheke Region. The meeting, which ends on Thursday, is being attended by various chiefs, traditional leaders and councillors, mainly from the Aminuis-based OvaHerero Traditional Authority. Close to 300 people, including ordinary members of the public, turned up to witness Rukoro's ascendance to the OvaHerero top throne. A usually stern speaker, Rukoro had to fight back his tears when delivering his acceptance speech. He dedicated his throne to the memory of Riruako, whom he said had left a void too big to be filled by “a mere mortal”. “I would like to thank him for carving a path for us to follow. If it was not for him, some of us would not have been where we are today,” Rukoro said. Choosing to reserve a more detailed speech for later, Rukoro said the time has come for the OvaHerero to put all their difference behind them and move forward as a united nation. Rukoro joins a legion of historic and prolific OvaHerero paramount chiefs, including Riruako, Clemens Kapuuo, Hosea Kutako and Samuel Maharero. Fanuel Tumbee Tjombe acted as chief after Riruako’s death, but he passed away on July 31. EHUNGIRO NAMPA