WINDHOEK – Chief Joseph Tembwe Mayuni of the Mashi Traditional Authority, has laughed off suggestions by a traditional councillor whom he fired and who has challenged his legitimacy as a chief as a typical case of sour grapes.
Sililo Mundia John was dismissed by Chief Mayuni as a senior traditional councillor for alleged misconduct recently, contacted New Era claiming the revered, conservation award-winning Chief Mayuni does not have royal blood.
The ousted councillor also asked for an urgent investigation into the appointment of the current chief Tembwe who was recognised by government in 2004.
According to the “family tree structure” that the ousted Induna showed New Era, Chief Tembwe has no royal blood because he apparently originated from the Namulimbwa family who was then a bodyguard to the late Mayuni.
“It is completely false. It is not true, I do have royal blood. What I know is that Namulimbwa is the first born son to Mayuni. The first of which he is my great-grandfather. I have royal blood and succession in the Mafwe tradition follows the paternal side and not the maternal line. I know that person making such accusations is from the maternal side which is not recognised. I fired him as a senior traditional councillor due to misconduct and now he is bitter,” he countered.
Chief Tembwe applied for recognition in 1997 and his official recognition was granted by government in 2004. In 1997, Chief Mayuni was part of the national delegation to the Cites conference in Harare, where he played a major role in lobbying for Namibia to be permitted to sell its ivory stockpile.
In the same year, he initiated the establishment of a communal conservancy in Caprivi, which was registered in 1999.
In 2000, he initiated a joint anti-poaching unit consisting of community rangers of three conservancies, rangers of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and staff of Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRNDC).
New Era understands that before his official recognition, several investigations with regard to his chieftaincy legitimacy had been carried out by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development (MRLGHRD).
But according to the ousted Induna, “The family is unhappy how Joseph Tembwe was recognised as chief. He has no royal blood. His great-grandfather was a bodyguard to the late Chief Mayuni many years ago. How did he come to take over the chieftaincy if he was born out of a bodyguard?”
“What we know is that the late Mayuni had three children with his first wife – two daughters and one son. While his second wife, had two sons and after his death his son, Mapulanga took over the position of senior traditional leader. When he died his other brother succeeded him until independence as Mapulanga. Because he did not want the name Mapulanga to exist anymore, he changed the name to Namulimbwa who was a bodyguard. He is using our family name, Mayuni, as if it is in his blood lineage,” charged the Induna.
He claims the Mapulanga family want Chief Tembwe to step down so they can elect another chief which they say should have royal blood.
Contacted for comment, MRLGHRD Permanent Secretary, Nghidinua Daniel, indicated that follow up investigations and consultations on the same matter were made by the Council of Traditional Leaders with the Kongola community where Chief Tembwe resides as well as with the Sifwe speaking community under the leadership of Chief George Simasiku Mamili of the Mafwe Traditional Authority in Chinchimani in terms of Section 12 of the Traditional Authorities Act, (Act 25 of 2000).
Adding that no claims of foul play were brought to the attention of any of the previously investigating committees.
“People must not cause division among the nation because they are maybe power hungry. They must remain united and not bring up such issues after ten years of the chief’s recognition. We don’t appoint chiefs, we only recognise them after the community appoints them,” he cautioned.