Africa-Press – Namibia. CHARMAINE NGATJIHEUE and SHELLEYGAN PETERSEN
POLITICAL leaders have called on Ovaherero leaders to unite amid factions in the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA).
The two factions, led by disputed paramount chief Mutjinde Katjiua and OTA chairperson and Ovitoto chief Vipuira Kapuuo, maintained their stance to hold two separate Otjizerandu Red Flag Day events at the weekend.
In the same vein, academic professor Katjiua was coronated as paramount chief by his faction at Omusarakuumba, 18 kilometers outside Okahandja.
According to his group, Katjiua takes over from the late paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro who died last year, and for whom a tombstone unveiling was held.
Kapuuo and his group followed thereafter to pay homage to the fallen heroes.
Kapuuo and his group held their commemoration at Commando No 1, an event attended by a number of political faces such as Nudo president Utjiua Muinjangue, Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) president Mike Kavekotora, and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) president McHenry Venaani.
The two splinter groups have been at loggerheads over who should take over the authority’s leadership, with Kapuuo maintaining he is the acting paramount chief by virtue of being the OTA chairperson.
Both Katjiua and Kapuuo have taken each other to court with cases still pending.
Kapuuo’s supporters said the other group did not follow traditional norms and customs, and do not recognise him as their paramount chief.
Muinjangue yesterday said the community has become a joke over its infighting, and outsiders have lost respect for them.
She said the Germans are taking note of the happenings within the Ovaherero community, and are smiling.
“Only we can change the status quo,” Muinjangue said.
Meanwhile, Kavekotora also called on the two groups to come up with an amicable solution and solve their squabbles.
Speaking at the event organised by Kapuuo, Kavekotora said the Ovaherero people lost their lives, land and animals during the genocide, which has led to the community being poor.
“Our community needs a leader who can address poverty and improve livelihoods,” he said.
Katutura Central constituency councillor Vezemba Katjaimo, who is part of the Kapuuo group, insisted that the Ovaherero people only have an acting paramount chief, who is the chairperson of the OTA.
“Katjiua is not the Ovaherero paramount chief . . . He doesn’t have a locus standi. We already know we do not have a paramount chief, we have chief Kapuuo as an acting paramount chief,” he said.
Recently, High Court judge Herman Oosthuizen dismissed an urgent application by Katjiua and the OTA which did not want Kapuuo to act as though he represents the OTA.
Oosthuizen ruled that Katjiua lacks the locus standi to have brought this application as the paramount chief of OTA, nor did he establish a clear right or the other requisites for interdictory relief.
Kapuuo’s spokesperson, Uazuva Kaumbi, said Katjiua can have his group of followers and do as they please as they are stationed outside of Okahandja.
“It does not really matter . . . he has got no impact,” he said.
“It is unfortunate and we hope this is the first and the last time,” Kaumbi said about the separate red flag commemorations.
Meanwhile, the wife of the late paramount chief, Dina Rukoro, and his child have sided with Katjiua and gave him permission to conduct the tombstone unveiling.
During the coronation of Katjiua on Saturday evening, the son of the late paramount chief, Nguvi Rukoro, handed over artefacts as symbols of power.
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