Roland Routh
Victoria Immanuel
The Uukwambi Traditional Authority (UTA) and the community’s royal family are quarrelling over planned events to honour their chiefs and kings.
Herman Iipumbu, on behalf of UTA, dragged the royal family, represented by Wellem Amwaama and Seblon Shivolo, to the High Court to stop them from having a commemoration ceremony for their departed kings.
Amwaama and Shivolo, who belong to a committee called Akwaniilwa yUukwambi clan, initiated a celebration on 16 and 17 August this year to commemorate the kings of Uukwambi at Okashana ka Abed Kandongo in Oshikuku.
They also want 15 August to be the annual commemoration date of departed kings.
However, as part of its annual plan, UTA was already in the process of organising a commemoration to honour all previous chiefs on 9 September, including the unveiling of a tombstone of late chief Iipumbu ya Tshilongo, who died at the hands of the South African colonial regime when his palace was bombed on 15 August 1932, forcing him into exile.
Ya Tshilongo was the last king of Uukwambi.
He returned to Amupolo in 1938 due to illness, and died on 9 September 1959 in Oshikuku.
Iipumbu said they informed the Akwaniilwa yUukwambi clan committee that the event was unauthorised.
They were also told to stop with the preparations forthwith.
Despite several more attempts, including lawyers’ letters for the committee to halt preparations, the respondents continued with the plans.
UTA has now approached the court on an urgent basis, as they will not get redress in due course, with the event scheduled in a week.
He asked the court to interdict and restrain Amwaama and Shivolo from going ahead, and to be directed to desist from continuing or making any further announcements that the event will take place as scheduled.
He also wants the duo to immediately stop all preparatory steps and processes thereof.
In an affidavit filed, Iipumbu stated that UTA has jurisdiction over all members of the authority as designated by law within the designated areas of Uukwambi.
Amwaama and Shivolo countered that there is no urgency in the application, as UTA knew from 2020 that the royal family intends to commemorate the departed kings on 15 August every year.
Amwaama, who deposed an affidavit in support of his position, said that the event is a celebration of the royal family, and not of UTA.
Since the attack on the palace in 1932, the Aakwambi people have not had any kings to this day.
When Namibia attained independence, UTA was established under the leadership of a chief.
However, the designated chief was not from the royal family.
He said there was never any dispute that the royal family had ignited a succession debate to install a new king. However, this has nothing to do with UTA, but to unite chiefs and kings of Uukwambi.
Amwaama stated that the ceremony they intend to have is to celebrate the kings of the clan, and not to disrupt or negate UTA’s celebrations.
He said they chose the venue on the basis that it was where their ancestors were buried.
With regards to UTA’s claims that the two celebrations will cause tension in Uukwambi, he said there is no evidence adduced by UTA.
Windhoek High Court Judge Thomas Masuku, who is presiding over the matter, said that he will deliver his ruling on Thursday.
Power struggle
UTA chief Iipumbu said he was appointed by the nation, and that they gave him the power to govern and rule Uukwambi.
Iipumbu was responding to rumours that some members of the royal family want him to step down, as he is not of royal blood.
“I am given authority to rule, and I am also recognised by the government as a chief of Uukwambi. If I am to step down, it shall be done in the same manner,’’ he said.
On the assertions that the community wants a King to take the reins, he said: “We do not have Kings in Namibia anymore. We only have chiefs. The only King we have is the President”.
He further said there are procedures to be followed, and processes that need to be done by the Constitution.
Iipumbu also asked who was going to be his successor.
Tangy Mike Tshilongo, the spokesperson of the committee responsible for the designation of the successor of late King ya Tshilongo, said OTA must be governed by a chief – not by a head of the traditional authority.
“We recognised the role the head of the traditional authority, Iipumbu, played, but it is now the right time for a chief to take over. A new chief from the royal family is needed to govern the Uukwambi house,” said Tshilongo.
Tshilongo explained that the late Ya Tshilongo did not get a chance to choose his successor while he was in exile.
“Our generation has a mission to accomplish. The generations of 1940, 1950 and 1960 failed to pursue the mission of the king. The generation from the 1970s and 1980s is ready to advocate for what King ya Tshilongo was advocating for.
“We do acknowledge the contribution made by the head of the traditional authority… but now their time is up, and they need to support the designation of king ya Tshilongo’s successor. By demanding a chief, we are not abusing anyone. We are just following the Traditional Authority Act that every traditional community can request the designation of a king,” he said.
-rrouth@nepc.com.na
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