Africa-Press – Namibia. THE northern traditional authorities have suspended community court sessions for a month due to omagongo (brewed marula juice) season.
The suspension is to allow people to enjoy the drink.
Omagongo is brewed by most families in northern Namibia, and the first brew is traditionally presented to the king or chief first.
It is served to visitors and friends, and at weddings and other special occasions.
The Oukwanyama, Uukwambi, Ongandjera, Ombalantu, Uukolonkadhi, Uukwaluudhi and Ombandja traditional courts will be on hold until 1 April.
Chairperson of the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority Elias Waadja says the authority took the decision at the end of last month.
He says during this time, people are not allowed to carry weapons, such as spears, pangas, knives, bows, spears or walking sticks – known in Oshiwambo as odhimbo or ondibo.
He says the authority’s subjects generally comply with these instructions.
“Even if you want to open a case against another person, you cannot do so, because the offices are closed for omagongo season. You have to wait until the period of suspension lapses,” Waadja says.
Ongandjera Traditional Authority spokesperson Sakeus Shangula says putting the courts on hold is a long-standing tradition of the Ovambo culture.
He says only a few people are not willing to comply with the authority’s directives.
“These are mainly educated people,” he says.
Ombalantu Traditional Authority spokesperson Isdor Kanelombe says those who may have been wronged by others can open cases against them at a police station or wait until 6 April, when the court resumes.
However, the spokesperson of the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Frans Enkali, says their courts are open.
Suspending court sessions for a month would result in a backlog of unresolved cases in both community and traditional courts, he says.
Although community courts are disregarded in many communities, they have jurisdiction over matters such as customary unions, and delicts such as adultery or the failure to pay lobola, among others.
The director of community courts in the Ministry of Justice, Amalia Nathaniel, last year said these courts are allowed to adjudicate criminal offences arising from the contravention of customary laws and customs.
In most cases, such offences are limited to theft, common assault, neglecting children, as well as inheritance issues.
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