Acting Ovaherero paramount chief Vipuira Kapuuo has cautioned urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni against recognising chieftaincy claimant Mutjinde Katjiua, saying the matter is currently being dealt with by the courts. 

Through his attorneys, PD Theron Associates, Kapuuo wrote to Uutoni, saying they are aware of an application filed by chief Bethold Tjiundje to his office, seeking Katjiua’s recognition.

“Our client is aware of an application for approval to designate a chief of a traditional authority purportedly made by the chief BP Tjiundje on behalf of the OTA for the designation of Mutjinde Katjiua as the new Paramount Chief of the OTA,” reads the lawyers’ letter, dated 7 June this year, addressed to Uutoni and copied to Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate.

Kapuuo advised Uutoni to exercise his rights and appoint a committee to investigate the dispute within the traditional authority before considering Katjiua’s designation,  

Katjiua, following the passing of paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro in July last year, organised a transitional committee with the consent of some chiefs’ council members, who later chose him as the next paramount chief.

However, his appointment has been heavily disputed by those supporting Kapuuo, arguing that since Kapuuo was the chairperson of the chiefs’ council at the time of Rukoro’s passing, he should be the one to convene the chiefs’ council meeting.

Yet, the Katjiua faction has rejected Kapuuo being the chairperson in no uncertain terms.

Meanwhile, Kapuuo March this year filed papers through his lawyer against Tjiundje and 56 other respondents. 

Kapuuo, through his lawyers, had declared the meeting that took place in December as unlawful and demanded that the senate slated for the weekend be stopped.

 In the court documents, Kapuuo declared that in terms of Ovaherero customary law, tradition and protocol, the chairman of the chief’s council becomes the acting paramount chief of the Ovaherero traditional community upon the death or incapacitation of the paramount chief.

 “The applicant, being the chairman of the chief’s council, is declared to be the acting paramount chief of the Ovaherero traditional community in terms of the Ovaherero customary law, tradition and protocol,” the document read.

 “The purported chief’s council meeting – not called by the chairman of the chief’s council – and held on 

 Kapuuo said the meeting was not properly constituted, not properly led, had no quorum and consequently made decisions it had no authority to make.

 Following the December meeting, a senate meeting scheduled for this weekend was declared null and void, according to Kapuuo.

 “It is hereby declared that in terms of Ovaherero customary law, tradition and protocol, a senate meeting must be called by the decision taken at a properly called and constituted chief’s council meeting,” the court documents further read.