Shortly before the crack of dawn on Sunday at the historic Otjimbingwe, the towering Hoze Riruako rose to be unveiled as new Ovaherero paramount chief-designate. As around 500 religious Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) followers waited with bated breath, at exactly 03h45, former Electoral Commission of Namibia commissioner Barney Karuombe announced that Riruako had seen off competition from politicians McHenry Venaani and Mike Kavekotora by a distance.

Karuombe, alongside Sam Kauapirura and Benny Zaaruka, presided over the election, in which Riruako garnered 195 votes [or 72%]. He is a maternal nephew of the late ombara otjitambi (paramount chief) Kuaima Riruako, who died in 2014. 

His closest competitor was Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader Venaani, with 41 votes.

The scorecard of Venaani’s compatriot in the opposition benches, Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) president Kavekotora, was 33.

The marathon voting process by the OTA senate, which for the better part struggled to agree on the right formula to elect the new ombara otjitambi, ran for 23 consecutive hours, with delegates getting short health breaks throughout.

“I am pleased by the kind words of my two colleagues [Venaani and Kavekotora]. They gave me joy, that they fought to defend what is theirs, and will continue doing so. Looking into the future, let us not be consumed by politics in addressing issues of the Ovaherero. I know I will succeed in this position, because I have your backing. This community was never led by those who call themselves ‘alpha and omega’. It was always the ordinary, humble leaders, who treat all with respect and dignity, who succeeded,” Riruako said.

He also indicated that he deliberately elected not to formulate a manifesto detailing his vision for the Oveherero. “People asked me about my dream for the community. Journalists wanted a manifesto. But how do I dream without even being in the house? I will go to the community. Together, we will come up with our vision and take ownership of it,” he promised. Soon thereafter, Kavekotora rose to the podium. The ever-composed technocrat-turned-politician was in a jovial mood, as if he was not the one on the receiving end of a defeat.  

“I know my wife is happy [because I lost]. My kids, on the other side, are fuming. Mind you, they have black belts in karate,” Kavekotora said in a jocular fashion,  softening a tense environment in the fully-packed famous Da Palm hall.

As scholars during the liberation struggle, Kavekotora and Riruako shared trenches in the United States in the 70s.

Looking at Riruako, Kavekotora said:
“When we are around people, I will refer to you as ‘mbara otjitambi’. But when it’s just the two
of us, I will call you the names I call you,” he stated. A few hours later, Kavekotora was back again, now addressing the closing ceremony of the senate.

“We want to unite the Ovaherero people. We are too fragmented for political reasons, for hunger, and all other irrelevant issues. My second objective was ancestral land. The ruling party is paying lip service to the issue of ancestral land,” he pointed to some burning issues confronting the community.

“I want the Hereros to understand that development is squarely their responsibility. We have moved away from our traditional way of living. We must come back, start cherishing our old way of living, focus on cattle and goat farming, and promote it to a level where our ancestors used to survive without even
begging,” he urged. “We need to bring back our tradition,” he buttressed.

Venaani

On his part, Venaani committed himself to the process, branding it free and fair. 

“I commit myself as a culturalist, as a traditionalist, to the electoral process that was conducted freely and fairly, with this senate. None of my intention lies with going to courts to probe the process… we’re in this together until death,” he added.

Later that day, the politician would also address the hundreds who descended on Otjimbingwe like bees on honey to witness the contest. It was vintage Venaani, as his oratory skills once again came into play.

The significance of Otjimbingwe, he said, cannot be overemphasised.

It was in Otjimbingwe 160 years ago in 1863 when the OTA was birthed and the first PC elected. That year, the Ovaherero decided to come under one military umbrella so as to face their opponents as a united front.

That year, Maharero ua Tjamuaha was elected as paramount chief. “If it was not for the kind of disunity that is prevailing in our community, I would not have allowed myself to contest. I want to urge our new paramount chief, as a dear cousin of mine, to be a peacemaker. Go to the nations, go to our people, go to the blind man, respect the old and young, take the hand of peace to our people, and unite and consolidate our people. It can be done,” Venaani stressed.

Two centres of power

The writing, however, was on the wall.

Whoever emerged the winner would join academic Mutjinde Katjiua at the apex leadership tussle of the Ovaherero.

Whichever way it is looked at, the OTA has two paramount chiefs, Katjiua and Riruako, at least for now. Katjiua’s appointment was sanctioned at Onderombapa in 2021 by one the OTA factions, while the process that delivered Riruako was staunchly spearheaded by Ovitoto chief and OTA chiefs’ council chairperson, Vipuira Kapuuo. The two groups do not recognise each other’s existence. 

While the Kapuuo faction was electing their paramount chief, the Katjiua faction was in Okahandja for a brief on the genocide issue.

As far as Riruako is concerned, the OTA will submit his name to the minister of urban and rural development for gazzetting, after which he will be coronated.

Katjiua, on the other hand, was coronated at a glamorous ceremony last year, which featured an imported gold-plated throne and a sword purportedly given to the late Riruako by former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.   

-emumbuu@nepc.com.na