WINDHOEK- Tension is mounting ahead of the much anticipated crowning of the new Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero to replace the late Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako who died on June 02.
Ironically, one of the reported early front runners advocate Vekuii Rukoro, could not confirm nor deny his candidacy and basically ruled himself out of the running for the coveted chieftainship.
“Since I did not apply for the position and not actively or otherwise campaigning for it, I’m not going to offer any comment to these speculations at this stage,” he said on Wednesday.
“I wish the Ovaherero people all the best of luck in their deliberations,” Rukoro told New Era.
Asked whether he will attend the meeting he said, “Right now I am in Finland from here I will go to England I don’t know whether I will be back in time.”
A special meeting is to be held at Ehungiro, Otjinene in the Omaheke Region on Monday to elect the next Paramount Chief.
OvaHerero Traditional Aauthority (OTA) chairperson, Chief Vipuira Kapuuo told New Era on Thursday that the meeting will go ahead as planned. He refused to comment on who the favourite is to succeed the late Riruako.
“I don’t want people to speculate who the next chief will be, I am just calling all the stakeholders to the meeting so that we can decide together,” Kapuuo said.
“Speculation will only bring unrest among our communities,” he added. However, New Era understands that Dr Hoze Riruako, Chief Kapuuo and Rukoro are among the frontline contenders.
Riruako was not available for comment as his phone was switched off.
OTA Secretary, Unotjari Katjimune said all 33 traditional chiefs and the senior traditional leaders have been invited and they all confirmed their attendance.
“Let me make this clear to you, all candidates for this position will be selected in this meeting, we don’t have any candidates at this moment,” he stressed.
The positions of the Paramount Chief became vacant after the death of Chief Kuaima Riruako, who died in June after a short illness. Chief Tumbee Tjombe was elected as acting Paramount Chief, but he too died two months later from a long illness. Chief Kuaima Riruako became Paramount Chief of the Herero in 1978.
He remained in that position until his death. Riruako took the position after the assassination of Clemens Kapuuo in 1978.
Meanwhile, the Namibia constitution does not constitute the term Paramount Chief.