FRANSFONTEIN – Council of Traditional Leaders chairperson Immanuel /Gaseb has said traditional matters and political affiliation should not be conflated.

Speaking at the official coronation ceremony of Charles Otto William /Uirab of the Swartbooi Traditional Authority on Saturday, /Gaseb emphasised the difference between politics, customary law and its responsibilities.

“I, therefore, call upon traditional communities to not confuse traditional matters and political affiliation. Traditional authorities operate within the mandates of the law which govern the traditional authorities, therefore, we should refrain from mixing the two,” the chairperson said.

/Gaseb said no chief or the traditional authority should be allowed to appoint senior traditional councillors or any other person in the jurisdiction of another chief.

He attributed disputes between traditional authorities to political affiliation and power greed. 

The Council of Traditional Leaders does not want to resolve leadership conflict over power and asked the traditional authorities to stick to their jurisdiction.

The coronation ceremony marked the crowning of Charles /Uirab as the new chief of the Swartbooi Traditional Authority.

/Uirab was publicly named by outgoing chief Daniel Luipert as his next successor to the Swartbooi traditional throne.

During the ceremony, Luipert was rushed to a local hospital due to dehydration caused by the heat. His condition was later declared stable.

Earlier this year, Luipert, citing deteriorating health, appointed /Uirab as his successor to take over leadership responsibilities.

The chief of the !Garab Traditional Authority, Posman Hanse, had the honour of officially crowning /Uirab. Accepting the leadership role, /Uirab vowed to continue the legacy of the Swartbooi chiefs.

“I will take the stick and the head to lead and direct you,”
/Uirab said in his acceptance speech.
-Nampa