UUKWAMBI – Chief Herman Ndilimani Iipumbu of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority has issued a stern warning to individuals questioning his legitimacy, telling them to stop spreading misinformation about his royal lineage and authority.
Addressing a meeting at the Uukwambi Traditional Authority (UTA) headquarters with his headmen on Wednesday, Iipumbu quashed claims by certain quarters that he is not from the royal family and should be nowhere close to the throne.
The purpose of the gathering was to update Uukwambi headmen on key developments within the traditional authority and to provide clarity on the misinformation being circulated about his status.
“I called this meeting to address pressing issues and to inform you about individuals who are spreading false claims regarding my royal background,” he said.
“These people are misleading the public,” he said. “Those who claim I lack the power to lead UTA must be prepared to face the law. I have never received any document indicating that I am not the legitimate leader.”
The traditional leader emphasised that he was officially recognised by the government, like all other traditional leaders in the country.
“This must come to an end. I have led the Uukwambi Traditional Authority for 40 years after being formally entrusted with this responsibility,” he stated.
He further revealed that he has received legal correspondence from lawyers representing those challenging his authority, but the attempts to discredit him in court have failed.
“They took the matter to court and lost. Some were even ordered to pay damages after the court ruled in my favour,” he said.
Chief Iipumbu urged the headmen to remain united and focus on serving their communities with respect and integrity.
“Let us continue to promote unity and peace within our traditional authority, just as other traditional leaders do across the country,” he urged.
Last month, a concerned group asked the UTA to bring back the “kinship in the Uukwambi kingdom and revert to their ancestors’ way of governance.”
At the centre of the controversy are allegations that Iipumbu is not from the royal family and therefore has no claim to the Uukwambi throne. This emanated from a group within the Uukwambi Royal House in a letter to UTA in which they request the authority to act on the matter and install someone from the royal family to lead Uukwambi.
Speaking to New Era last month, the chairperson of the Uukwambi Royal Family (Ovakwaniilwa), Willem Amwaama, said the leadership under the kinship system is inheritable, based on the customary laws of community.
“In Uukwambi tradition, like in all communities of Aawambo, royal kinship is matrilineal. Succession follows a matrilineal line. The king’s nephew, born to his sister, often takes over the throne. The kings appoint the councillors, referred to as ‘omalenga,’ from the community,” he explained.
Amwaama said from the 1750s up to 1932, Uukwambi was ruled by kings referred to as ‘eeshamba’ and omalenga.
“The omalenga were appointed by the king based on their character, traits, and skills,” he said.
Amwaama said the last king in Uukwambi was Iipumbu Ya Tshilongo.
Also speaking to New Era last month, Tangy Mike Tshilongo, a community member from the Uukwambi kingdom, said a lawful member of the Uukwambi traditional community has publicly denounced the unlawful and uncustomary designation of Iipumbu as their chief.
He claims the process violated Uukwambi customary law and was politically influenced.
“I had a press conference on 17 August 2024 that was shut down by Oshana police, a move I view as state repression, a violation of my constitutional rights,” he said.
Despite formally requesting clarity from former minister Erastus Uutoni, no proper legal justification was given for Chief Iipumbu’s designation, he added.
Tshilongo further quoted the Traditional Authorities Act, noting that the community—and not the state—must designate its chief. He emphasised that the government’s gazetting of Iipumbu is invalid due to a flawed process.