Tense standoff in Ondonga
Tension is growing in the Ondonga traditional authority's succession battle and some want the government to intervene.
The succession war within the Ondonga kingdom has quickly escalated to a pattern of name-calling and personal attacks, with many fearing that the considerable infighting could lead to dangerous consequences.
The standoff, mainly between the Ondonga leaders and royal family, has led to mounting tension and calls have been made for the powers that be, including government, to intervene to help end the impasse.
There is a chain of nasty messages being circulated all over social media regarding the affairs of the traditional authority, and the purported unbecoming behaviour of some.
Yesterday, Chief Immanuel /Gâseb, deputy chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Namibia, said the Ondonga leadership crisis had halted the council's operations.
/Gâseb has played a leading role within the council due to the poor health of Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, who is the chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders.
/Gâseb told Namibian Sun yesterday that he was advised by urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa not to travel to the North to consult Elifas because of the infighting within the traditional authority.
“Every year during the early months I travel to Onamungundo to consult King Elifas. I always brief him on the council's operations of the past year and consult him on the planned activities of that year together with his council.
“This year's consultation was scheduled for last month, but I was advised by minister Shaningwa not to go ahead with it because of the leadership crisis in Ondonga,”
/Gâseb said.
“Even if I go there now it will be for no use. Kauluma (suspended OTA chairperson) and Asino (suspended OTA secretary) are not there and they are the ones with whom I used to consult the king because they have better understanding of the traditional authority affairs.
“I understand that former President Sam Nujoma's bodyguard Nepando Amupanda is now the acting OTA secretary, but I doubt if he has any knowledge of the traditional authority.”
Approached for comment, Shaningwa said she had not been informed officially about the leadership crisis in Ondonga. She added that the Ondonga Traditional Authority knew what channels to follow in informing her.
“I cannot comment now until I am informed officially. Both those reported suspended and those reported to have taken over the OTA have not informed me of anything yet,” Shaningwa said.
In contrast, the suspended Joseph Asino disputed Shaningwa's assertion, saying she had been informed of the leadership impasse in Ondonga by Uukwambi chief Herman Iipumbu in his capacity as the deputy chairperson of the eight traditional authorities in the North.
All efforts to get hold of Iipumbu failed.
Battle to be king
The Ondonga Traditional Authority has been plunged into a leadership crisis following the suspension of senior leaders, including its long-serving chairperson Peter Kauluma and spokesperson Joseph Asino.
Influential senior and ordinary councillors from Ondonga, including John Walenga, Vilho Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Joseph Akawa, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili have also been suspended. The suspended councillors are backing Fillemon Shuumbwa as successor to Elifas, but their move has been strongly opposed by the royal family led by the king's wife, Sesilia Elifas.
The rival faction supporting Shuumbwa has accused the king's wife of making decisions on behalf of the ailing king. She has also been accused of sowing division in the kingdom. At the weekend, a community meeting headed by Walenga reportedly ordered the king's wife to leave the palace within 30 days.
Recently Walenga's urgent court application to have the king mentally evaluated to see whether he was still of sound mind and fit to discharge the Ondonga kingdom's traditional responsibilities, failed in the Windhoek High Court.
ILENI NANDJATO
The standoff, mainly between the Ondonga leaders and royal family, has led to mounting tension and calls have been made for the powers that be, including government, to intervene to help end the impasse.
There is a chain of nasty messages being circulated all over social media regarding the affairs of the traditional authority, and the purported unbecoming behaviour of some.
Yesterday, Chief Immanuel /Gâseb, deputy chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Namibia, said the Ondonga leadership crisis had halted the council's operations.
/Gâseb has played a leading role within the council due to the poor health of Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, who is the chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders.
/Gâseb told Namibian Sun yesterday that he was advised by urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa not to travel to the North to consult Elifas because of the infighting within the traditional authority.
“Every year during the early months I travel to Onamungundo to consult King Elifas. I always brief him on the council's operations of the past year and consult him on the planned activities of that year together with his council.
“This year's consultation was scheduled for last month, but I was advised by minister Shaningwa not to go ahead with it because of the leadership crisis in Ondonga,”
/Gâseb said.
“Even if I go there now it will be for no use. Kauluma (suspended OTA chairperson) and Asino (suspended OTA secretary) are not there and they are the ones with whom I used to consult the king because they have better understanding of the traditional authority affairs.
“I understand that former President Sam Nujoma's bodyguard Nepando Amupanda is now the acting OTA secretary, but I doubt if he has any knowledge of the traditional authority.”
Approached for comment, Shaningwa said she had not been informed officially about the leadership crisis in Ondonga. She added that the Ondonga Traditional Authority knew what channels to follow in informing her.
“I cannot comment now until I am informed officially. Both those reported suspended and those reported to have taken over the OTA have not informed me of anything yet,” Shaningwa said.
In contrast, the suspended Joseph Asino disputed Shaningwa's assertion, saying she had been informed of the leadership impasse in Ondonga by Uukwambi chief Herman Iipumbu in his capacity as the deputy chairperson of the eight traditional authorities in the North.
All efforts to get hold of Iipumbu failed.
Battle to be king
The Ondonga Traditional Authority has been plunged into a leadership crisis following the suspension of senior leaders, including its long-serving chairperson Peter Kauluma and spokesperson Joseph Asino.
Influential senior and ordinary councillors from Ondonga, including John Walenga, Vilho Kamanya, Kashona kaMalulu, Joseph Akawa, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili have also been suspended. The suspended councillors are backing Fillemon Shuumbwa as successor to Elifas, but their move has been strongly opposed by the royal family led by the king's wife, Sesilia Elifas.
The rival faction supporting Shuumbwa has accused the king's wife of making decisions on behalf of the ailing king. She has also been accused of sowing division in the kingdom. At the weekend, a community meeting headed by Walenga reportedly ordered the king's wife to leave the palace within 30 days.
Recently Walenga's urgent court application to have the king mentally evaluated to see whether he was still of sound mind and fit to discharge the Ondonga kingdom's traditional responsibilities, failed in the Windhoek High Court.
ILENI NANDJATO
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