WINDHOEK – One faction of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority under Hiangungo Kapia has dismissed claims it is behind the move to reject the newly elected Ovaherero Paramount Chief Advocate Vekuii Rukoro.
In a press statement, the Zeraeua Royal Family: Ovakweyuva (vOmuzi) noTjipepa said Kapia’s leadership was not part of the exercise that was deliberately orchestrated to bring disrepute to the “sound and cordial” relationship existing between the Ovaherero Traditional Authority and the Zeraeua Traditional Authority.
This came in the wake of reports claiming seven Ovaherero traditional authorities rejected Rukoro’s ascension to the throne.
The authorities that seemingly petitioned Pohamba were the Kambazembi, Zeraeua, Maharero/Tjamuaha, Mureti, Vita and Ovambanderu,
Pohamba sent a congratulatory message to Rukoro after he was elected last month as the new paramount chief.
The press statement signed by Samuel Puriza and Uahindua Ndjiharine stated it was of paramount importance to note that about two weeks ago an investigating committee established by the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development conducted an interview in the Zeraeua Traditional Authority in an effort to bring to an end the simmering succession leadership dispute.
“The Ministry has not pronounced itself on the matter and it is therefore instructive to state that the Authority at this point in time is not in a position to make a statement which is collective and representative of all the strata of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority, which in any event is irresponsible, divisive and interference in the internal affairs of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority,” read the statement.
Furthermore, the Zeraeua Traditional Authority said that it had its own challenges and impediments of reuniting its community and it was therefore illogical to comment on affairs of another authority in which it is not a constituent member.
The authority said since the commencement of the statute that regulates traditional affairs in Namibia, they registered as a separate, independent and autonomous authority and not as a constituent part of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority and it was therefore illogical to reject the chieftaincy of another independent traditional authority.
“It is therefore our contention that the faction of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority that issued this negative statement must identify itself instead of hiding under the collective Zeraeua Traditional Authority,” they said.
The authority further argued the assertion by the said authorities that traditional communities do not elect is “outdated, antiquated and does not have relevance to the current constitutional democratic order in which communities have rights to elect their leaders,” adding the alternative would be the imposition of leaders who do not have the trust and confidence of their subjects under pretext of customary law and practice.
Sam Kauapirura, spokesperson for the Ovaherero Paramount Chief, also dismissed claims by the traditional authorities, saying Chief Maharero was designated as leader and ever since then, the supreme Ovaherero leadership was consolidated, with royal houses left to manage their clans.
“This is what evolved in the Ovaherero Traditional Authority. After Maharero, Samuel took over and was succeeded by Hosea Kutako, who was followed by Clemens Kapuuo, followed by Kuaima Riruako. This is the seat for which Advocate Vekuii Rukoro was designated,” said Kauapirura.
Kauapirura said historically, there was no conflict between the royal houses on the one hand and the Ovaherero Traditional Authority on the other hand, adding that now, the royal houses in question have advanced the argument the paramount chief position is non-existent.
“The royal houses must have taken over the leadership of the Ovaherero people mid-air. These arguments have been vainly tried and we do not believe that they deserve space in the arena of marketable ideas,” he said.