TSINTSABIS – Tsintsabis is embroiled in a leadership crisis following the “unceremonious” ousting of its headman, Geelbooi Thaneb, by a youthful group of Haikhom tribesmen a few months ago.
Thaneb, who says he still enjoys the backing from the community including full benefits in the form of a monthly salary from government, wants retired Major General Charles Namholo, Minister of Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, to intervene to restore stability in the community.
According to Thaneb, the group led by a certain Paul Khaigowab, held an unannounced meeting with some sectors of the Haikhom community at the settlement and elected the latter in a move seen to de-thrown the incumbent Thaneb as headman of the Haikhom community in the Tsintsabis area.
Thaneb was installed as the headman of the Haikhom community shortly after independence following the death of his predecessor, Jan Seringboom.
The newly elected Khaigowab seem to enjoy the backing of the Chief of the Haikhom clan, Dawid //Khamuxab, based in Outjo, sources told New Era.
Thaneb told this reporter he was never invited to the meeting where Khaigowab was elected, as is the traditional procedure being followed by the tribe.
“I was supposed to present at the meeting where I was to report on the work done during my term of office. These young people have come here to create confusion. They are moving a political agenda and are now dividing the innocent Haikhom people by lobbying them to rally behind him and his unpopular group,” moaned the ousted headman Thaneb.
Asked about his political claims, Thaned stressed that most of the “new kids on the block” are representatives of opposition parties in the settlement.
“I am not sure about Khaigowab but surely the rest of his followers have political motives since they serve on those structures”.
He claimed that while it is not a sin to have a political home, unsuspecting vulnerable people should not be used as tools to support political agendas in view of the forthcoming elections.
Thaneb further claimed that he is the legitimately recognized leader of the Haikhom community in the area which was also published in the government gazette and that no clique will remove him from office except through an official government notice.
Meanwhile New Era learned that the community was divided into two camps headed by the duo and that some service providers with the interest of the Haikhom community members are in a state of confusion not knowing which of the two leaders to approach for consultation.
“We don’t want to be involved when there is a leadership crisis because we need accountability when delivering humanitarian services to the Haikhom people since our assistance comes in various forms hence the only recipients of such aid should be a recognized leader of that community. We have the right therefore to be informed if there is a change in leadership else we will continue to work with the leader (headman) we came to know since we started operations in this area”, said one donor who preferred anonymity amidst the leadership crisis.
Thaneb stressed that development is being halted at the settlement since nobody wants to be seen supporting one faction and that the unresolved conflict is detrimental to the progress and development of the Haikhom community.
“I am willing to step down if voted out of power at an election supervised by legitimate structures of our community. What happens now is a total disrespect for authority of authentic representatives of our people. I will not condone such actions, it is tantamount to power wrestling at the expenses of villagers who need services especially when threatened by drought conditions that are eminent throughout the country”, lamented Thaneb.
Approached for comment, Khaigowab denied overpowering Thaned claiming that the latter resigned from his “seat” during February and has apparently since referred visitors to his office, including the Haikhom community members, to him.
“I am in possession of a recording when Thaneb announced his resignation at a community meeting on February 20 this year. His sudden u-turn almost 8 months after my installation as headman in March this year, is no surprise knowing that his advisors are pushing him not to hand over power. I am shocked that Thaneb took to the media instead of discussing traditional matters internally”.
Khaigowab told New Era that the Haikhom Chief was due to address the community on December 15 and spell out the way forward as far as traditional issues in the area are concerned.
By Engel Nawatiseb