2008-07-01Staff Report 2 "By Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro TALISMANUS The crusade by a section of the Ovambanderu community, to have Keharanjo II Nguvauva as successor to the late Ovambanderu Chief Munjuku II Nguvauva, kicked off in all earnest here on Saturday when he was presented to the Ovambanderu community. Keharanjo II is the son of the late Munjuku II and younger brother to the already anointed heir to the Nguvauva throne, Kilus Nguvauva, who is also the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources. Kilus Nguvauva was also accepted, following his anointment by the Nguvauva Royal House by another section of the Ovambanderu at a meeting early this month at the homestead of the late Munjuku II in the village of Ezorongondo, as the Chief of the Ovambanderu. Keharanjo II, who was present at that meeting accepted his brother's anointment then in view of it being the wish of his late father as contained in a letter that was apparently written by the late Munjuku II in September 2001. Keharanjo II said then that he did not want to go against the wish of his late father. However, Keharanjo II has now availed himself for appointment as Chief of the Ovambanderu if the Ovambanderu community wishes him to lead them. Since Friday, the section of the community here that has come to be known as the Concerned Group, has been gathering in numbers to welcome their preferred candidate for the chieftaincy of the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority (OTA), notwithstanding that the Nguvauva clan at the meeting of June 7 at the homestead of the late Munjuku II, anointed Kilus Nguvauva and whereupon a section of the community present, excluding the Concerned Group, also accepted him as Chief of the Ovambanderu. This was after the Ovambanderu Supreme Council duly endorsed him. However, the Concerned Group that has been denying ever being invited to the June 7 meeting, has maintained that as much as the Nguvauva clan has anointed Kilus Nguvauva as heir to the throne, still the Ovambanderu have the freedom of choice. In this regard, their choice of Ovambanderu Chief as opposed to heir to the Nguvauva throne is Keharanjo II. Hence, his presentation to the community here for nomination as a candidate for the Ovambanderu chieftaincy and eventual appointment or election whatever the case may be. Keharanjo II was presented to the community here first, then again at the village of Okombepera in the Aminuis constituency on Sunday. This weekend Keharanjo II would be presented to the Ovambanderu community in Opuwo in the Kunene Region. Keharanjo II who was in the company of Ovambanderu Senior Chief Erastus Kahuure, as well as other dissenting members of the Nguvauva clan, was welcomed by a cavalry of the green flag traditional paratroopers accompanied by battle cries and eulogies by green flag women in their traditional khaki and green and black traditional attires. The traditional aspect of the pompous welcome ceremony was also interspersed with the singing of gospel songs. Regarding the Ezorongondo gathering that anointed his brother Kilus Nguvauva, Keharanjo told the gathering that he went to this gathering unaware that it was to anoint an heir to the throne. For the first time, he found out about the letter on the apparent wish of his father for Kilus Nguvauva to succeed him at that meeting. He said consideration was only given to this letter-cum-will of his late father and it was the only thing that prevailed in the anointment of the heir to the Nguvauva throne without any other of the late Munjuku II's children being considered or given a hearing. He said that even shortly after the funeral of his father at his homestead there was no mention of the said letter. He apologised to the gathering for the ""bad things"" that the Nguvauva clan engaged in, partly a reference to the anointment being handled by the clan, adding with hindsight that it may be premature to apologise as he suspected more ""bad things"" were in the offing. He lastly appealed for peace among the Ovambanderu community, pointing out that as small as the community is, it cannot afford divisions amongst it. The availability of Keharanjo II as Ovambanderu chieftain candidate obviously brings to the fore the succession dispute among the Ovambanderu and heightens the internecine war that has engulfed the community over its traditional governance system. This dispute had a sequel in the High Court last year and in the Supreme Court this year. The verdict thereof is pending. A form was circulated at the meeting in which any Omumbanderu party to the meeting who so wishes could nominate Keharanjo II as candidate for the chieftaincy of the Ovambanderu. " 2008-07-01Staff Report 2
