By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK A lack of knowledge of traditional and customary laws by traditional leaders as the custodians of such laws could throw Namibia into chaos. This warning was sounded on Tuesday evening by Chief Ndilimani Herman Iipumbu of the Uukawmbi Traditional Authority, who officially launched a book on traditional authority at the National Archives. The book titled, The Shade of New Leaves. Governance in Traditional Authority, a Southern African Perspective, was written by Professor Dr Manfred Hinz of the Faculty of Law at the University of Namibia. “It is very important for us to be taught and trained in traditional government and customary law because a country rooted in its traditions, norms, values and customs is very powerful. It is also necessary for quality education and training to be given at all levels so that both traditional leaders, students and legal professionals could be empowered to live and work according to the country’s governmental and traditional laws,” Chief Iipumbu said. He urged traditional leaders to attain higher levels of knowledge on the traditional and customary laws of the country. “Students need to know traditional and governmental laws to be able to understand better their studies and the laws of the country. Legal professionals also need continuous education and training to enable them to work with fairness in handling various cases in Namibian courtrooms. Education is the key to success. Therefore, for us to succeed in all our endeavours related to traditional government and customary law, both vital for reinforcing law and order in the country, Namibian legal professionals need to be well educated in all legal affairs,” the Chief said. He added: “If this country has effective law and order, it means that it is stable. The stability is measured in terms of peoples’ health, comfort in their daily life and economic development. The country will also be free from many problems such as crime, poverty, ignorance and poor health. People in this country will be physically and psychologically free due to the stability in Namibia.” The Chief hailed the new book on traditional authority as a joyous moment that calls for celebration. “This book contains a range of excellent contributions on traditional governance and customary law. They are informative, thought provoking and will stimulate further research. It is very important that comprehensive research be conducted in traditional government and customary law because this will strengthen our traditional authorities. Research is vital for revealing any problems or shortcomings hindering traditional governance and customary law to be of value and recognized as other governmental law,” he said. Iipumbu expressed the hope that teaching and training will further help traditional leaders. He said that he accepted to officially launch the book because he wanted to be become part of the research that explores the governance he represents and the law he has to execute. “Traditional leaders are not just objects of researchers as it was the case before independence when researchers came from outside without allowing us to be part of what they were doing. It is essential for us, but also for the quality of the research, that we are part of that research that we advise, we are consulted, that we have a say in the process of research and thus gain a voice in the outcome,” he said, also reemphasizing the restoration of the dignity of traditional governance that traditional leaders have inherited from their ancestors.