Windhoek
Elders of the Onguatjindu clan yesterday confirmed the suspension of Chief Sam Kambazembi of the Kambazembi Royal House (KRH).
Onguatjindu clan elder Ben Tjirare, who claimed to be the designated advisor of the clan, revealed to New Era that a meeting which resolved to suspend Chief Kambazembi took place last month at the clan headquarters in Okakarara.
According to him, the gathering was chaired by other clan elders that included Uheeja Aron Tjikurame, Uahauri Kandinda, Tjohokuru Toromba, Kandumeke Katjarua and Tjivahe Tjamburo, among others.
The only notable absentee was Uateza Urika, who declined the invitation to attend. Chief Kambazembi stands accused of various alleged violations, which include aligning himself with the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, which is under the stewardship of Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro. He is further accused of maladministration and the abuse of funds that belong to the traditional authority, and of having brought the traditional authority into disrepute as a result of drinking excessively in public.
However, a defiant Chief Kambazembi insisted he is still in charge of the royal house, adding that the suspension letter by members of the royal family was not authentic.
Kambazembi disputes the authority of the royal house and is adamant that no one in the royal house has the authority to suspend him.
Interestingly, Kambazembi told New Era yesterday that he is the one who has in fact suspended senior traditional councillors such as Ueriuka Tjikuua, Billy Tjikuua and Kapangurua Kambazembi from representing the royal house.
“Those councillors have no authority to speak or organise events on behalf of the KRH authority,” he said.
“All meetings with government or other traditional authorities will be presided over by a delegation led by myself,” he added.
Kambazembi threatened those who claimed to have suspended him with legal action.
The KRH has jurisdiction over the traditional matters and communal land of the Ovaherero in Otjozondjupa Region.
In 2013, government donated N$3.5 million towards the construction of an office complex for the KRH in Okakarara.
Last month, Nampa reported that senior councillors in the KRH wrote a letter to both Otjozondjupa Regional Governor Otto Iipinge and Minister of Urban and Rural Development Sophia Shaningwa, demanding the immediate removal of Kambazembi.
Chief Kambazembi is the son of late Chief David Tuvahi Kambazembi, who died in 2006. Kambazembi was appointed late in 2014 as the new chief of the KRH, replacing his brother Uaakutjo Kambazembi, who died earlier that year in Ongwediva Medipark Hospital.