ONGWEDIVA – Vulgar language was exchanged between attendees of a meeting aimed to discuss the leadership of Omatando No.2 village, which has been a battlefield for leadership squabbles for years.
The village has been without a defined headman for many years. Illegal fencing of land at the village also featured prominently at a meeting yesterday, but it was the exchange of insults that headlined the occasion.
Onamutayi district headmen under whom Omatando 2 falls, officials from the Ongwediva Town Council as well as other stakeholders, attended the meeting. The meeting was held at the Ongwediva Town Council’s chambers on Thursday morning
Conflict continue to boil between the son of the former headman William Mbangula who is firm that his father signed an agreement for the village’s leadership to be taken over by the Ongwediva Town Council, while the Onamutayi District leadership is adamant that Kanisius Shiindi is the village leader. Kanisius Shiindi was endorsed as leader of the village by the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority.
Cementing the village leadership position, the mayor of Ongwediva Town Council Jason Asino concurred that Omatando 2 falls within the town borders and as such residents should abide by the rules and regulations set by the council. As such the traditional authority no longer has the power to instate a headman. Asino also further informed that a discussion with the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority to grant the council to take over the leadership of the village was held in way back in 1993.
“We took the trip to the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority in 1993, and that is when the council and the traditional authority agreed upon not to instate a headman,” said Asino
At the meeting which ended on a bitter note it was agreed that the issue of the leadership at Omatando 2 be sent for review and further discussion to solve the problem at hand because the attendees could not reach an amicable solution.
Senior Headman of Onamutayi, Amon Shipanga said although that was the agreement made then, the council has failed to put the agreement in writing which was a requirement when the decision was taken.
Also on the agenda was the illegal fencing of areas which William Mbangula is alleged to have put up lately at the village. The issue which is observed to have created tension in the village between Mbangula and the Onamutayi district leadership led to an exchange of vulgar language within the meeting.
In response to fencing of areas in Omatando 2, Public Relations Officer Andreas Uutoni informed that fencing off areas or putting up structures at Omatanda 2 is illegal and hindering development and Mbangula has already been informed by the council. Uutoni was making reference to residents who are selling portions of their mahangu fields to potential customers in search for plots.
“Omatando is a concern to the council; people are putting up structures and closing roads in the process. The council is preparing to solve the problem,” said Uutoni.
Meanwhile, Mbangula said he is ready to comply with the decision taken in 2013 for Omatando leadership activities to be handled by the council as agreed provided that no other person is pronounced as the village headman stating that he is not hungry to lead.