Africa-Press – Namibia. CHAIRPERSON of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority George Nelulu last week resigned as chairperson of Oukwanyama Traditional Council.
Nelulu announced his resignation at a media briefing held at Ohangwena, after serving in the position for 18 years. Nelulu said he resigned because he is ageing, and that he was tired of the allegations of corruption made against him by his fellow traditional councillors and advisers.
He has been suspended twice, he said. The first time was in 2011, and the second was last year. Nelulu told The Namibian that he has also been accused of giving away land certificates illegally, as well as a piece of land in at Oukwanyama to the Ondonga Traditional Authority. However, Nelulu denied this.
He said former senior traditional leaders were not happy with him being the chairperson of Oukwanyama Traditional Council. “When I was appointed as chairperson of the Oukwanyama Traditional Council, many things were in a mess. I generated money for the traditional authority and we issued land certificates to those who were in need,” he said.
The traditional authority derives funds when residents pay for land, cuca shops and fishing quotas, and also receive an annual budget from the government.
“Nothing was easy but the job was fantastic. I suffered so many accusations and faced numerous challenges,” Nelulu said. Nelulu said the queen of Oukwanyama Traditional Authority, Martha Nelumbu, was unhappy about his resignation.
“She was very sad and also a lot of people were sad about my resignation but I am getting old now,” he said, adding that during his time as chairperson, the relationship he had with the other councillors was like that of cats and dogs.
“You know there is no way everyone will like you. I have people who liked my leadership and those that hated me,” he said. The traditional authority has since appointed Elias Uaandja, the senior traditional councillor of Onandova district, as the acting chairperson.
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