Vaalgras probe attacked

The members of the Vaalgras Concerned Group are sceptical about a commission of inquiry set up to gather facts on the situation in the village, where dissatisfied members of the traditional community are crying for the removal of Chief Joel Stephanus. The Concerned Group described the fact-finding commission headed by Phillip Tjerije, special advisor to the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, as “hogwash and a waste of State resources”. The commission yesterday held separate meetings with Chief Stephanus, the Concerned Group and members of the Vaalgras community. Local Government Minister Charles Namoloh, wrote in a letter to the concerned group that he would take a decision as soon as possible after receiving the commission’s report. The Concerned Group wants the removal of Chief Stephanus and the official recognition of their candidate, Andries Biwa. The minister recently emphasised that Chief Stephanus remains the legitimate chief of Vaalgras and that the group did not satisfy the provisions of the Traditional Authorities Act. Eric Biwa, spokesperson of the Concerned Group, described the commission as a “rescue mission” for Chief Stephanus and Reverend Willem Konjore, whom they are accusing of manipulating the chief, and as a delaying tactic against installation of a new chief. Biwa said Namoloh set up the commission instead of responding to their petition, but the law is very explicit about when there is a dispute. According to him, a dispute arises only when there is petition signed by the community objecting to appointment or designation of a chief. He argued that during the election of Andries Biwa there was no petition or no objection and therefore there is no need for an inquiry. He said the minister must simply forward the Concerned Group’s documents to the president for his signature to remove Stephanus and officially recognise Biwa. “That is what the law says. The so-called fact-finding mission is not provided for in the Traditional Authorities Act. It is illegal,” he maintained. However the group did send a delegation to meet the commission of inquiry. He further emphasised that the Vaalgras leadership crisis is definitely heading to court and that they have already given instructions to their lawyer to write a letter to the minister. “Legally the minister does not stand a chance to ignore our concerns,” he said. Some members of the Concerned Group in Windhoek observed that all the information the minister needed to take an informed decision had already been forwarded to him.