OLUNO – A section of the Ondonga royal family yesterday commenced with the paperwork required to have Konis Kalenga designated as omukwaniilwa of Ondonga.

“We have notified the minister [of Urban and Rural Development] and we are processing all the paperwork required by law to designate omukwaniilwa,” media liaison officer of the group, Oscar Sheehama, said.

Kalenga was nominated and announced to the public by elders of the Ondonga royal family on Sunday at the former palace of the late Omukwaniilwa Immanuel Kauluma Elifas at Onamungundo. In unprecedented events on Sunday, Kalenga’s nephew Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo was crowned as omukwaniilwa of Ondonga at his homestead at Onambango village by another faction. Asked when his group intended to crown Kalenga as leader of the traditional community, Sheehama said the date will be announced in due course. He added that the fact that Kalenga is not crowned yet does not stop him from performing his duties.

Kalenga until his nomination on Sunday served as the headman of Iikango B village in the district of Oniimwandi.
The 55-year-old was raised by the late Kauluma since he was three years old.
He lived with Kauluma until 2001 when he got married.

Asked why the royal family has waited until Kauluma was frail to challenge Shuumbwa’s position as his deputy and possible successor, Sheehama said the family had several meetings to address the matter long before Kauluma  became frail, but this did not yield any consensus.

He recalls having sat in eight meetings to address the matter.
Sheehama stuck to his version that an incumbent omukwaniilwa, as per the Ondonga customary law, is not allowed to nominate or appoint his own successor.

But he assured that the royal family yearns for the two factions and the Ondonga populous at large to unite.
He said their faction is open to discussion with whoever wants to bring about peace.
Asked what the royal family plan in doing to unite the two factions, Sheehama said, “We will follow the customary law, that is our guide forward.”