Vakwangali chieftaincy won’t start afresh – Hambyuka

Kenya Kambowe RUNDUWhile there exists a faction aiming to dethrone Uukwangali chief Eugene Siwombe Kudumo, the traditional authority’s chairperson Hamunyera Hambyuka says the process to have a leader recognised by government won’t start afresh.Hambyuka said Kudumo remains the chief of the Vakwangali tribe and issues hindering his recognition by government are being addressed.“We have requested a meeting with the royal family where issues will be dealt with,” Hambyuka said.“For now, chief Kudumo remains the head of the tribe. He is no longer recognised by the state because of the High Court ruling, but we are working on it and once all is set, we shall reapply for government to recognise him as our chief.”Hambyuka could not give a timeline regarding when these processes will be completed.‘Invalid’In 2019, High Court Judge Harald Geier ruled that Kudumo's designation as chief of the traditional authority by then minister of urban and rural development Sophia Shaningwa on 15 February 2017 be set aside.Geier declared his designation “invalid and of no force or effect” and Kudumo was de-gazetted.Kudumo took the matter to the Supreme Court, where he ran into a brick wall.The chieftaincy wrangle follows the death of Kudumo's grandfather, Chief Sitentu Daniel Mpasi, in 2014.The anti-Kudumo faction is headed by Andreas Kamukwanyama.The Kamukwanyama-led committee previously told Namibian Sun that they planned to designate a new chief for the tribe.Last year, Kudumo labelled those trying to remove him from the position he has held since 2015 as “criminals” and “foreigners”. Designate vs recogniseRegarding the Supreme Court ruling, Kudumo blamed Shaningwa for using the term ‘designate’. According to him, chiefs are not designated by the government but rather recognised in accordance with the Traditional Authorities Act.“The government only recognises you as a hompa and what the government nullified is the then minister who just made a mistake by saying designate when she was supposed just to approve,” Kudumo claimed.“So, we followed the right procedure. I am still the hompa [chief], we only look for recognition from government.“This group, they customarily don't have the right to grab the key of the office. We must distinguish between chieftainship and traditional authority. If you are going to grab the key, you are just going to start a coup. We will not allow them to do as they please. I have thousands of supporters, while they are just nine to 100. I remain the hompa of the Vakwangali,” he said.kenya@namibiansun.com

Vakwangali chieftaincy won’t start afresh – Hambyuka

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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Vakwangali chieftaincy won’t start afresh – Hambyuka

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-18

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