When reading the New Era of Tuesday, 20 February 2007, “Mafwe Will Not Sit Idle” and also the Republikein of Wednesday, 27 February 2007, “Caprivi Twis Na Staathuis”, I noticed a lot of tribal connotations and gross distortion of facts which breed hatred and mistrust among communities in the Caprivi Region. Eventually, this culminates in perpetual tribalism with no solution and unfortunately the Government, though innocent, is being blamed for that. My opinion is that the communities in the region do not need this type of tribal politics since its fruits are self-destruction and disunity. The facts on the ground are that tribalism in the Caprivi Region is responsible for lack of development as it is being driven by the region’s intellectuals, who are mostly residing in other regions. The other phenomenon of this dreadful disease, which has destroyed many communities in Africa, is that the issue is not between the Masubiya and the Mafwe as portrayed in the afore-mentioned print media articles but is between the Masubiya and the Subiya-speaking Mafwe. The Subiya-speaking Mafwe are at the fore of this practice and are influencing and cunningly dragging unsuspecting people into their hidden political agendas. The forefathers of these Subiya-speaking Mafwe were, some decades ago, members of the Masubiya Tribal Authority to which they had allegiance and loyalty before they deflected to the Mafwe Tribal Authority. They used to pay their tribal levies to the Masubiya Tribal Authority, and documentary evidence is available to prove this. On the other hand, when they changed their allegiance they did not move from the land belonging to that Tribal Authority, and hence the reason for those land claims by the Mafwe Tribal Authority. The other aspect is that Chief Simataa Mamili who was deposed as chief of the Mafwe in the year 1938 according to the letter number I/N of 16 March 1938 from the superintendent of the Caprivi Zipfel at Katima Mulilo, and response from the Acting Chief Native Commissioner in Windhoek in the same year with reference No. A.460/23, the deposed chief was sent into exile or banished to the area of Chief Chikamatondo of the Masubiya Tribal Authority and I quote the decision: “Mamili should be instructed that as a deposed chief, he cannot remain in the Mafwe tribal area. He should either return to Bechuanaland from whence he came to assume the chieftainship, or he should move his kraal to Chikamatondo’s area”. The Mafwe Tribal Authority can therefore not claim Chief Chikamatondo’s land which was used by their banished chief but which reverted to its owner after the reinstatement of their chief. To strengthen the fact that the Masubia were the aborigines of the Caprivi Region before the other communities, and had authority over the whole region before the coming of colonialists, see attached map “Distribution of Southern Africa Population about the Year 1700”. Also attached is a map produced during the era when Namibia was under German colonial rule and then known as German South West Africa “Ost-Caprivi um 1914” which indicates that during that time the Caprivi Region was occupied by the Masubiya in the east and the Mayeyi in the west. The Masubia territory included Muyako and Lake Lyambezi claimed by the Mafwe Traditional Authority now. I should also mention that the names Muyako and Lyambezi are Subiya-named these places, which were not in their area? On the other hand, the Masubiya, like all other peace-loving communities, do not want to dwell on history but would like to share the resources in the region with all other communities without looking at who belongs to which tribe. The issue of Mr Chilinda and Mr Kulobone (the representative of the National Society for Human Rights) who assaulted someone for allegedly ploughing in their fields is a criminal case, which should be resolved in a court of law. The other side of the story is that these brothers should have sought a solution to their case (Chilindas) through other avenues like the Regional Land Board, etc. instead of taking the law into their hands. Taking the alleged culprits to another Tribal Authority is not an answer as the culprits could be abused and intimidated as similar incidents reportedly happened where heads of directorates in Caprivi Region from the Masubiya community were intimidated and humiliated by the Mafwe Tribal Authority in the past. I would also like to appeal to the National Society for Human Rights not to jump to conclusions when they receive allegations until they are verified with the other parties involved. The way forward, according to my opinion, is that issues related to Tribal Authorities should be left in the hands of Tribal Councillors and criminal cases be handled by the law-enforcing agencies. The media is not the right platform to resolve such issues. If Tribal Authorities pick up problems among their tribes, they should peacefully hold consultative meetings to resolve them, as was the case during the reign of Chief Maiba Muraliswani (father of current Mafwe chief) and late chief Maiba Muraliswani (father of current Masubiya chief), who ruled the region peacefully and in consultation with each other. I must, nevertheless, mention that the two honourable chiefs ruled in the absence of political influence. The President’s decree which came after a through investigation and recommendation by the council of Traditional leaders should be respected by both the winner and the loser in order to maintain and foster peace and stability in the region because there will always be a winner and a loser in every dispute. I therefore appeal to the two chiefs to avoid listening to some of their subjects who harbour political ambitions but who resort to using Tribal Authority as platforms to achieve their ambitions. CONCERNED CITIZEN