Alfons Kaundu, whose chieftaincy was in question, has been affirmed as the rightful ruler of the Mbunza Traditional Authority by the Windhoek High Court.
Judge Eileen Rakow said after the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development received a complaint in 2012, an investigation was conducted.
The investigations revealed that Kaundu was indeed from the royal bloodline, and was correctly elected as chief.
“They also found that according to the presented family tree by the traditional authority, both Ester Nankali and chief Kaundu are the descendants of Nkombere,” said the judge.
She further said the investigations found that the nomination went through both the elders’committee and the traditional authority, and neither these bodies had any objection against the election of Kaundu as chief, nor was it raised with them that he is not of the royal family. “Taking all the probabilities into account, I came to the conclusion that chief Kaundu is indeed from the royal family, and was correctly elected as chief,” said Rakow.
The court’s pronouncement was a result of 51 members of the Mbunza royal family approaching the high court, seeking an order compelling the urban minister to notify President Nangolo Mbumba of the removal of Kaundu as chief of the Mbunza Traditional Authority.
Despite Kaundu having been elected, the group refused to recognise him as chief.
In 2011, the royal family resolved to remove Kaundu as chief, and substitute him with Esteria Mbambo as the new chief.
-mamakali@nepc.com.na