Acting chairperson of the Council of Traditional Leaders in Namibia chief Immanuel /Gaseb has said he will next week Thursday have a meeting with urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni to discuss the vacant chairperson position of the council.

The position became vacant following the passing on of Omukwaniilwa Immanuel Kauluma Elifas of the Ondonga Traditional Authority who served in that position from 1997 until at the time of his death in 2019. “I am going to meet minister Uutoni on Thursday next week to discuss wether we can have the council meeting to elect the new chairperson for the council.

Remember last year we didnt have a meeting because of the virus,” /Gaseb told New Era briefly upon enquiry yesterday. The late Elifas and the late Ovambanderu chief Munyuku II Nguvauva were elected as the first chairperson and deputy chairperson of the council in 1997, respectively. Munyuku passed away in 2008 and was replaced by /Gaseb. 

According to the Council of Traditional Authorities Act, members of the council which shall consist of two members from all recognised traditional authorities shall at their first meeting elect a chairperson and vice chairperson of the council from their members.  

The Act further says the chairperson and vice chairperson of the council shall hold office until he or she - ceases to be a member of the council or resigns as chairperson or vice chairperson or is removed from office as chairperson or vice chairperson by resolution of the council. 

Traditional authority leaders have been calling for the amendment of the Act so that the chairperson or vice chairperson positions can be on a five-year rotational basis.