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Investiture of Ovaherero Chief Takes Place Tomorrow

Home Archived Investiture of Ovaherero Chief Takes Place Tomorrow

By Mbatjiua Ngavirue WINDHOEK The ceremonial investiture of Uakutjo Kambazembi as Ovaherero Chief of the Otjozondjupa Region, will take place tomorrow at Onguatjindu village, Okakarara. President Hifikepunye Pohamba has delegated Minister of Regional and Local Government Housing and Rural Development, John Pandeni, to officially represent him at the ceremony. Among important guests expected to attend the event are King Immanuel Elifas Kauluma of Ondonga, Chief Erwin Mbambo Munika of the Mbukushu Traditional Authority and Chief John Arnold of the Omatako Traditional Authority. Other guests are Chief Alphons Maharero, Chief Christian Zeraua, Kapuka John Thom of the Vita Royal House and Uaziruapi Paul Tjavara of the Otjikaoko Traditional Authority. Paramount Chief of the Herero’s Kuaima Riruako is attending the event in his capacity as a member of the Onguatjindu family. Uakutjo Kambazembi succeeds his uncle, Tuvahi David Kambazembi, who tragically passed away on July 14, 2006, while on a mission to find his grandfather’s grave in South Africa. The appointment of Uakutjo Kambazembi as the new Chief is significant, because the Chieftaincy now reverts to the principal house of the Kambazembi royal family. His predecessor, Tuvahi Kambazembi’s grandfather, was a child of Kambazembi’s third wife. He, however, assumed the Chieftaincy after the son of the late Chief Josephat Kambazembi, Julius, passed away at a young age. Uakutjo’s father, the late Julius Kambazembi and great grandfather, Uamihe, are direct descendants of Kambazembi’s first wife. The heads of the various extended families of the Onguatjindu clan and Kambazembi family acknowledged – and annointed – him as the rightful heir to the Chieftaincy. This included the heads of the Tjerije, Urika, Tjikurame, Tjahapi, Mbarengua families, as well as Ngavirue as a member of the Kambazembi family. Officials of the Kambazembi Royal House say there was strict adherence to customary law in the succession – following the patrilineal line. Because Uakutjo is first in line of succession from the principal house, and the heir to his father’s holy fire, his accession to the Chieftaincy was never in dispute. The elders annointed him through a ceremony informing the ancestors (Okuravaera), held at the home of Kananiho Daniel Urika who performed the rituals. The 38-year-old Uakutjo was born in Kaokoland, where his mother still lives. He is married with a four-year-old son. The new Chief showed ambition, and a desire to seek a better life at an early age. Leaving the pastoral life of his forebears behind, he and a friend hitchhiked on trucks through the northern regions of Namibia to Walvis Bay after leaving school. He eventually settled in Walvis Bay in 1992, and has remained there ever since. In his youth, he was a keen soccer player, playing for Eleven Arrows until injury ended his sporting career. Outjina and Omuhiva dances performed by women and men respectively, drills by the Red Flag organization and a concert in the evening will form part of the ceremonies tomorrow. Organizers expect people to start arriving at Onguatjindu from 19h00 today, with the start of the official ceremonies scheduled for 06h30 for 07h00 tomorrow morning.