Despite government officials seemingly snubbing the celebration of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) at Okahandja on Saturday, the traditional authority donated one Brahman bull and two heifers to former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, as well as ten sheep including a ram to President Hage Geingob.
The donations took place at Okahandja Commando Number One in the Otjozondjupa Region on Saturday at the well-attended celebration, which saw the introduction of Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro to the Ovaherero community.
Rukoro, 61, succeeds late Chief Kuaima Riruako, who died in Windhoek on June 2 2014 after a short illness.
The donation is meant as a token of appreciation to Pohamba and Geingob for according the late Chief Kuaima Riruako a state funeral.
In his keynote address Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro said government should take it from him that the Ovaherero regard them as a friend with a common course and common purpose, and not as an enemy.
“This is a token of appreciation to President Pohamba for what he did last year by bestowing the highest honour of state funeral on the late Chief Riruako,” he said.
“As we understand the decision was not easy and was made possible by the support of former Prime Minister Hage Geingob. We the Ovaherero people will be forever grateful to both Pohamba and Hage,” he added.
On the issue of recognition, Rukoro said he recently submitted his application for recognition to the newly appointed Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Sophia Shaningwa, who responded by saying that she stood by the position held by her predecessor Charles Namoloh that Rukoro would be recognised in the same manner as the late Riruako.
Riruako’s jurisdiction is limited to the Aminuis area only, but Rukoro wants to extend his authority beyond just Aminuis.
“Our government must come clean with the hidden agendas they have against my people but the Aminuis Bantu style we shall not accept – not today, not tomorrow and not forever,” Rukoro said.
“In my application for recognition, I have stated the geographical areas in which I have followers and where they are settled,” he said.
Meanwhile, Oshakati businessman Ben Zaaruka pledged to deposit N$1 million cash into the OTA trust account today.