It is quite embarrassing to read about the ongoing infighting rocking the Ovaherero Traditional Authority and whose senior leaders are embroiled in a chieftaincy row.
One would have expected the community to forge a more unified path following the sad passing of former paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro last year.
But this has not been the case as bickering rears its ugly head, dividing the Ovaherero into two groupings. The media has also been caught in the crossfire of this highly unpleasant situation.
This latest wave of disunity was once again demonstrated during the annual commemoration of the Red Flag Day at Okahandja this past weekend.
In a weekend also meant to celebrate and inculcate the memory of the late Rukoro, supporters of the acting traditional authority chief Vipuira Kapuuo had gathered in Okahandja, while the splinter group headed by paramount chief claimant Mutjinde Katjiua set up camp at farm Omuserakoumba, some 18 kilometres northwest of Okahandja.
There, Katjiua was also coronated as the new paramount chief.
However, supporters of Kapuuo continue to insist Katjiua has no right to claim the chieftaincy considering his court application earlier this year to have the court to restrain Kapuuo from proceeding with irregularly and unlawfully purporting to be the representative of the traditional authority representative was dismissed.
Judge Herman Oosthuizen who delivered the judgement said Katjiua’s application lacked the locus standi for him to bring the application as the paramount chief.
Interestingly, Kapuuo called on the Ovaherero people to submit names of potential candidates to lead the OTA, saying a leader of the community would be named in three weeks.
The state of affairs befalling the Ovaherero people is quite unfortunate to say the least, considering these tensions are aggravated by senior traditionalists who ought to respect the customary laws on succession in order to avoid dispute of this nature. Traditional authorities are there to safeguard our culture.
They are the bastion of hope in our communities. To quote from the Biblical verse: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” Nudo leader Esther Muinjangue gave a brutal assessment of the situation when she addressed the Red Flag Day commemoration last weekend.
She was indeed right to call for retrospection. “We must start a dialogue within – what are we going to talk with the Germans if we, ourselves, can’t come talk with one another? Talking in one voice is very important in negotiations.”
Indeed, the time has come for these warring factions to smoke the peace pipe in the interest of their community by allowing the customary tradition to take its course as was done with the anointing of previous chiefs.
The ongoing fighting is nothing but a disservice to those who have championed the ideals of togetherness and social justice.