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Tuesday, April 23, 2002 - Web posted at 9:38:22 pm GMT

Govt will not recognise chief who joined Swapo

GOVERNMENT will not recognise a traditional leader who was previously aligned with the DTA just because he is now a Swapo member, Minister of Local Government Dr Nickey Iyambo made clear yesterday.

Chief Ukoruavi Tjarimbu of the Herero-Kakukurukouje Royal House is planning his inauguration at Etanga at Opuwo on Friday and has invited President Sam Nujoma, Iyambo, Governor of the Kunene Region, Simson Tjongarero, and various political leaders.

But Iyambo told The Namibian yesterday that Tjambiru's inauguration would not not receive Government's blessing merely because he had joined Swapo.

"I am not going to attend his inauguration and neither is the President going to attend it," he added.

Iyambo was responding to claims by DTA President Katuutire Kaura that Government would recognise Tjambiru's inauguration on Friday even though they had refused to recognise 45 other Herero traditional leaders.

Tjarimbu was among 46 traditional leaders who last year launched a court case which sought to have Government recognise them under the Traditional Authorities Act. However, while the case was before court, he withdrew from the case and joined Swapo.

Kaura alleged in the National Assembly last week that Tjambiru was being recognised simply because he had joined Swapo, calling it "blatant shameless, arrogant discrimination of unprecedented proportions"

Iyambo, who only came to learn about Kaura's allegations at the weekend, dismissed the claims as aimed at "scoring political points".

"We are not going to attend his inauguration. I have also ordered our Governor for the Kunene region not to attend."

He said Tjambiru "broke away from the 46 traditional leaders, hoping that he would be recognised easier" by joining Swapo.

"There is no way we are going to elevate his position," Iyambo said.

In December 2001, Herero Paramount chief Kuaima Riruako and the 46 traditional leaders scored a partial victory in their quest to be recognised as chiefs by Government.

A full bench of the High Court unanimously agreed that Iyambo's decision not to recognise them should be set aside.

However the judges declined to order the Minister to officially recognise their bid to be acknowledged as chiefs in terms of the Traditional Authorities Act.

The effect of the court judgment is that Iyambo is required to reconsider the traditional leaders' application for official recognition.