2013-11-26Mathias Haufiku By Mathias HaufikuRUNDU - The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, Sirkka Ausiku, says she will not meddle in the ongoing Shambyu tribal row. Some members of the Shambyu royal family are involved in a quarrel with their traditional leader, Chief Angelina Matumbo Ribebe. Those involved in the row with Chief Ribebe, mainly traditionalists, are disheartened by the fact she wants to appoint her husband Alois Gende, who is not a member of the royal family, into a senior position. “I received the letter from the royal family in which they state their objection, while onto that letter they attached a page which is apparently from the chief but it bears no signature of the chief,” Ausiku told New Era. “If it was written by the chief then why was it not signed by her? I cannot act on something that did not come from the chief,” Ausiku said. Ausiku made it clear that she did not receive any letter from the chief in which she is requesting to appoint her husband as a senior traditional councillor for administration. The royal family stated its frustrations in an objection letter forwarded to Ausiku, dated October 29 2013, in which they claim Gende does not qualify to serve in any structures of the traditional authority. Royal family members also attached a letter they claim was written by Ribebe, dated October 23 2013, in which she requested Ausiku to allow Gende to be appointed as a senior traditional councillor for administration. The letter was copied to the Kavango Governor, Ambassador Samuel Mbambo. Gende reacted “I don’t want any position, I am just involved because of my wife’s illness, I am not involved in the operations or management of the traditional authority.” The former DTA stalwart also hinted that there is a conspiracy against him by his in-laws in the Shambyu royal house. “Senior traditional councillors conducted an investigation into the matter, and a meeting to iron out the differences will be held at the tribal offices at the end of this month,” said Gende. “I do not want to comment much because I have decided to take the people who wrote that letter to court … the matter is with my lawyers right now,” Gende said. “Someone was tasked to write that letter, we know who it is, it was not the chief,” he added. Gende recently defected from the DTA to the All People’s Party. The royal family claim Gende is the “power behind the throne”, while sources privy to the traditional authority claim Gende wants to use the proposed position as a campaign tool for his new party by influencing Shambyu subjects to vote for the APP during next year’s elections. Ribebe’s ailing health and her constant visits for medical treatment is said to be the reason why she wants her husband in the party structures. “In-laws, either male or female, are given their due respect and status to exercise their rights as in-laws and nothing further than that. The Shambyu royal family was never aware of the decision to appoint Mr Alois Gende as Senior Traditional Councillor for Administration. The million dollar question is, in which ancestral descendant capacity will the appointment be done?” questioned one of his royal critics. They further stated they are aware of Ribebe’s illness, but there are concerns about the manner in which she handles tribal matters. “As per Kavango’s traditional authorities, the Shambyu Traditional Authority in particular, ancestral laws and norms, there is no way that an in-law of the royal family, either male or female, is accorded the status to be appointed to any traditional authority structure,” they said. 2013-11-26Mathias Haufiku
