Chief of the Mafwe Traditional Authority (MTA), Litunga Mamili VII, has urged the government to ensure that a boundary agreement signed by three traditional authority leaders in 1977 is honoured.
In a speech read on his behalf at the Lusata Cultural Festival at Chinchimani on Sunday , the traditional headquarters of the MTA, Mamili said the former western Caprivi, now western Zambezi, belongs to the MTA.
“Since independence in 1990, we have observed with great concern that every Delimitation Commission that was appointed by the president focused on changing the Western Caprivi constituency boundaries between the Kavango and Zambezi regions, causing mistrust, instability and insecurity between the said two regions,” he said.
Mamili said in June 1977 chief Richard Mamili of the MTA and chief Muraliswani of the Masubia signed an agreement with chief Mayebelo of the Hambukushu, stipulating that their border would be at the middle of Bagani Bridge on the Okavango River.
“It’s my humble request to the government to revisit and ensure that the agreement signed by our three former traditional authorities is honoured in letter and spirit,” he said.
He also noted that the MTA had for years been responsible for the administration of western Caprivi and had a traditional authority representative in the form of Shortie Mautu.
Mautu, the chief said, was a traditional councillor representing the San in the MTA at Chinchimani.
“His family still lives there and are attending this festival,” he stressed.
The chief also expressed support from the MTA for the San-speaking community to have a chief designate in western Zambezi.
“We are ready to assist the government in establishing such a traditional authority for the San community in that area. We are prepared to assign our traditional councillors in mentoring the San councillors in the governance of traditional matters,” he assured prime minister Elijah Ngurare who was in attendance as guest of honour and keynote speaker.
Mamili further applauded the Office of the Prime Minister for its visibility in several towns, and expressed hope that its ‘aggressive’ developmental programme approach would bring solutions to the different challenges identified by the nation across the country.
