Ovambanderu Traditional Authority (OTA) supreme council has agreed to appoint their trusted senior traditional councillor, Gerson Katjirua as the authority’s acting chief.
His appointment, endorsed by the supreme council meeting held over the weekend at the traditional authority’s headquarters, Omimbondevitano at Omawejozonjanda in the Epukiro constituency, follows the passing of Chief Kilus Munyuku III Nguvauva last week.
Nguvauva, who became the third senior traditional leader to succumb to Covid-19 in a matter of weeks, died in the early hours of Thursday last week in a Gobabis hospital.
He was 64.
His passing comes hot on the heels of the Ovaherero Paramount Chief Vekuii Rukoro and Gaob Eduard Afrikaner of the Afrikaner Traditional Authority, who died a fortnight ago due to Covid-19 complications.
Katjirua, in a statement, urged his community to remain calm, to respect and observe existing health protocols at all times during, what he termed a difficult period, for their own safety. Also, the meeting at Omimbondevitano resolved that senior traditional councillor Issy Murangi takes over the role of deputy chairperson of the supreme council.
Furthermore, it was also decided that the Nguvauva Royal House, in consultation with the Ovakueuva (the paternal side), the Ovakuenambura (the maternal side) and the Ovakautjivi (the grandfather side) would soon meet to decide on the burial of the late chief. Nguvauva, who was a long-serving councillor for Okorukambe constituency, also served as deputy minister at the works and fisheries ministries.
He became the chief of the Ovambanderu community in 2014 after a long court battle, succeeding his father, Chief Munjuku II Nguvauva, who led the Ovambanderu community for more than five decades until his death on 16 January 2008.