RUNDU – Hompa Alfons Kaundu of the Mbunza Traditional Authority in Kavango West says the N$2 000 monthly allowance that traditional leaders get from the government is “peanuts”.

Kaundu said there was nothing much they could do with the monthly stipend, considering the significant responsibilities they are entrusted with.

Kaundu made the remarks during a courtesy visit on Monday to his palace at Kapako village by the leader of the official opposition party, McHenry Venaani. 

According to Kaundu, 13 years ago, they were given vehicles with N$1 000 per month for fuel. Government has since stopped providing traditional leaders with monthly vouchers. 

“We maintain the cars that we use for personal and community work from our own pockets. We have to go around and do work through our office. 

The traditional authority has a big responsibility,” he said. He informed Venaani that recently, the traditional authority confiscated timber from a Chinese national who was harvesting it illegally within the Mbunza jurisdiction.

However, the timber was taken away from the traditional authority by forestry directorate officials. 

“Government told us to generate an income from our resources in our areas, but we have no right to sell confiscated timber to make money for the traditional authority. 

That really upset me. Everything in this palace is from my own pocket and I take care of orphans that I also have to feed from my community,” he said. “We have timber in our area but we are being denied as the traditional authority to harvest and sell. We tried seeking permission from the authorities but were denied access.” He said the traditional authority does not have resources at their disposal that they can easily use to assist members of the community. “Government must look into that and they must find a way for us to make use of our natural resources without difficult procedures so that we can use the money obtained in the process to take care of the needy in our communities, like orphans and vulnerable members,” he said. Venaani was consulting with the Mbunza traditional leader on a number of issues, including high levels of poverty in the region. “This is a normal courtesy call. I respect chiefs, remember I recently met the king of Ondonga and everywhere I go I meet these traditional leaders and we talk about matters of mutual interest and concern,” Venaani said.

Venaani said traditional leaders play an important role when it comes to development and should be included in national planning issues. 

– jmuyamba@nepc.com.na