Ongwediva
A fight over the headmanship in Oukwanyama has now reportedly escalated to the point where violent threats are being uttered and government food relief snatched.
Of late, a group allegedly backed by Namibia Traditional Councils Association (NTCA), in opposition against the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority (OTA), allegedly grabbed drought relief food and placed it in a cuca-shop guarded by men armed with bows and arrows.
According to reports that emerged on Saturday, a group under the leadership of Festus Hangushu hijacked a truck meant to deliver food to Onaimbungu village. The drought relief food has since been locked up in the cuca-shop and the villagers have yet to receive any.
Although Hangushu was allegedly not present at the village when the food was grabbed, his right-hand man, John Nashidengo, allegedly led a group of hooligans in seizing the truck.
Authorities, including the police and the local councilor, have not acted against the suspects, which caused several community members to accuse the authorities of backing Hangushu and his henchmen.
Onaimbungu village is under the leadership of Stephanus Joneas Kapenda, who was appointed by the OTA, but apparently the NTCA installed Hangushu as headman.
Over the past two months Hangushu’s people allegedly grabbed the drought relief food before it could get to the village drought committee, led by the headman.
Last month, the person accused of grabbing the food was said to have distributed it to their friends, including some Angolan citizens illegally settled in Onaimbungu village.
Every community member that favoured Kapenda was allegedly denied drought relief food. Some of that food is reportedly still in the cuca-shop where the latest haul of drought relief food is being stored.
Deputy spokesperson of Oukwanyama Traditional Authority Djeimo Popyeinawa confirmed the squabbles, maintaining that by the look of things the opposition seems to have the backing of senior government officials.
Popyeinawa says he advised the headman to open a case against the people disturbing the village and threatening villagers, but the police refused to, claiming Kapenda can only open a case after investigations are completed.
Councillor of Omundaungilo Constituency Festus Ikanda also confirmed the theft of the drought aid. He said his office has not opened a case, as he was told by the police to wait until police investigations into the matter are completed.
Police spokesperson Inspector Slogan Matheus, however, disputed allegations that the police had refused to open a case against those implicated in the food grab.
“A complaint was launched and police officers went to the headman to get his statement. All he told the police was that two Angolans had benefited from food relief. He did not mention anything about food grabbing or threats of violence,” Matheus said.
He urged Kapenda to go back to the police if he has additional information – apart from that which he already gave.
He said the police cannot deny anyone the right to open a case. The headman is free to go to any police station and open a case, in addition to the ongoing police investigation, according to Matheus.
He added that the police are aware of tension within and among traditional authorities in the Onaimbungu area, but to date no formal complaint has been lodged.
“We assume that the reason they are not lodging a formal complaint is because the issue is dealt with at the traditional authority level,” Matheus said.