WINDHOEK- The Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) Chiefs’ Council has put wheels in motion in their quest to elect a new paramount chief before the end of this month.
OTA Chairperson, Chief Vipuira Kapuuo, confirmed yesterday that a special meeting is to be held on September 22 at Ehungiro, Otjinene in Omaheke Region to elect the next paramount chief.
Kapuuo refused to speculate on who could emerge winner from the envisaged elective process.
“I don’t want to comment on who the next chief will be, all I can do is call all stakeholders to this important meeting,” he said.
However, New Era is reliably informed that Meatco CEO, Advocate Vekuii Rukoro, who was also special advisor to late Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako, is the favourite to be appointed as the next Ovaherero Paramount Chief.
Kapuuo called on the entire 33 Ovaherero traditional chiefs, their senior traditional leaders and their secretaries from all regions to attend what he term as an important meeting.
“I don’t want people to blame each other after this meeting that they were not invited and were not part in selecting the next paramount chief,” he stresses.
“Therefore I advise all stakeholders to attend this meeting,” he said adding that formal invitations will be sent to stakeholders.
The positions of the paramount chief become vacant after the death of Paramount Chief, Kuaima Riruako, who died earlier this year after a short illness.
Chief Tumbee Tjombe was elected as acting paramount chief but died two months later after a long illness.
Chief Kuaima Riruako became Paramount Chief of the Herero in 1978.
He remained in that position until his death. Riruako took the position after the assassination of Clemens Kapuuo in 1978.