The /Khomani Traditional Authority has dismissed attempts by a group within the community to remove their leader, Goas Julienne Gawanas from office, describing the planned process as illegal and baseless.
This comes ahead of a planned gathering aimed at deposing the chief this weekend, accusing the traditional authority of corruption, unlawful land sales, lack of accountability and the mismanagement of community resources by some disgruntled community members.
Walter Haseb, the advisor to Gawanas, refuted allegations, insisting that neither the chief nor the traditional authority has sold any communal land or mismanaged any community funds.
“The planned event is an illegal meeting of proceedings. Whatever they are trying to do is illegal; the queen has never sold land, and there are no funds that have been mismanaged,” Haseb said.
He further challenged those making the accusations to approach law enforcement authorities if they have evidence to support their claims. “If government or anyone has proof that land was sold illegally, they must go to the police and open a case against the queen,” he said.
According to Haseb, the traditional authority only receives about N$1 000 per month from the government, mainly intended for fuel and operational purposes, dismissing claims that large sums of community funds had been mishandled.
The group behind the planned removal says it intends to act in terms of Section 4.2.5 of the /Khomani Customary Law, which they claim allows the community, in consultation with the traditional authority council, to remove a king or queen from office. But Haseb argued that the process being pursued by the group does not follow proper legal or customary procedures and therefore cannot be recognised.
He also described the allegations against the chief as politically motivated and aimed at destabilising the traditional authority.
The tensions follow growing dissatisfaction among some community members, who claim the traditional authority has failed to address issues such as land access, development and accountability.
One of the leading voices behind the movement, activist and steering committee member Shaun Asprila Gariseb, recently accused the traditional authority of violating customary laws, the Constitution and the Traditional Authorities Act.
Gariseb further alleged that community members had repeatedly attempted to engage the leadership over issues relating to land, donations, fishing rights dividends and sponsorships but without success.
The planned gathering on Saturday is expected to focus on implementing resolutions allegedly taken during a community meeting held on 31 January 2026, where supporters of the move reportedly voted in favour of removing Gawanas.
-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na
Photo: Heather Erdmann