Damara squabbles escalate

KNIVES are out among the Damara followers of ‘King’ Justus //Garoeb and !Oe#Gan Chief Immanuel /Gaseb after a dispute over the ownership of the ‘People’s House’ at Okombahe escalated at the weekend.

Both sides claim that the ‘People’s House’, also known as the Royal House, is under their jurisdiction and have accused each other of misusing Government money given to the community. !Oe#Gan is one of the eight sub-clans of the bigger Damara tribe.//Garoeb and his followers met over the past weekend at Okombahe and afterwards issued a statement calling for an audit into how !Oe#Gan Chief /Gaseb used N$400 000 given by the Government for the construction of a community hall at the village.Meeting as the Damara Gaob Festival Organising Committee, the //Garoeb group questioned whether the money was used correctly and also called for an investigation into the assets of the Damaras.The move came after they were threatened with court action by the Damara Chiefs’ Council headed by /Gaseb.The Chiefs’ Council said the meeting was “unauthorised” and “controversial” as it was not sanctioned by them despite being hosted in an area under their jurisdiction.The chiefs say the People’s House cannot be used for “activities ulterior to traditional activities or any other activity contrary to mutual interest of the Damara people”.The other group hit back by stating that only //Garoeb had the prerogative to decide who may use the house and that Local Government Minister John Pandeni should be asked why he had decided to give /Gaseb the right to be in control of it.The Damara Gaob Festival Organising Committee gave //Garoeb two weeks to report back on answers from Minister Pandeni.Approached for comment /Gaseb said he was surprised that //Garoeb had called for an audit on the N$400 000 when the money was administered by the Erongo Regional Council and an audit on its use was carried out and approved by the Ministry of Local Government.”It shows that there are political motives behind the call.That place was a brothel when I became the traditional leader of the !Oe#Gan and we renovated it with the help of the Government.It’s all blatant lies to smear my name.How can I do that when I preach anti-corruption?” /Gaseb responded.He hit back by requesting that //Garoeb give public account of the money he collected from the Damaras when he claimed that he wanted to take the Government to court over the non-recognition of certain Damara traditional leaders.”What happened to that money? What happened to the money they collected with the music concert at UN Plaza recently? That concert was held to collect money for the Damaras but we have not heard a single word about it,” /Gaseb said.The Damara Gaob Festival Organising Committee said only //Garoeb may be called king and the rest chiefs or headmen.Under the customary law of the !Oe#Gan traditional authority, their leader (/Gaseb) is called a king and is recognised as such by the Government although the Government has outlawed the Paramount King title of //Garoeb.Both groups claim that they are the legitimate representatives of their people.!Oe#Gan is one of the eight sub-clans of the bigger Damara tribe.//Garoeb and his followers met over the past weekend at Okombahe and afterwards issued a statement calling for an audit into how !Oe#Gan Chief /Gaseb used N$400 000 given by the Government for the construction of a community hall at the village.Meeting as the Damara Gaob Festival Organising Committee, the //Garoeb group questioned whether the money was used correctly and also called for an investigation into the assets of the Damaras.The move came after they were threatened with court action by the Damara Chiefs’ Council headed by /Gaseb.The Chiefs’ Council said the meeting was “unauthorised” and “controversial” as it was not sanctioned by them despite being hosted in an area under their jurisdiction.The chiefs say the People’s House cannot be used for “activities ulterior to traditional activities or any other activity contrary to mutual interest of the Damara people”.The other group hit back by stating that only //Garoeb had the prerogative to decide who may use the house and that Local Government Minister John Pandeni should be asked why he had decided to give /Gaseb the right to be in control of it. The Damara Gaob Festival Organising Committee gave //Garoeb two weeks to report back on answers from Minister Pandeni.Approached for comment /Gaseb said he was surprised that //Garoeb had called for an audit on the N$400 000 when the money was administered by the Erongo Regional Council and an audit on its use was carried out and approved by the Ministry of Local Government.”It shows that there are political motives behind the call.That place was a brothel when I became the traditional leader of the !Oe#Gan and we renovated it with the help of the Government.It’s all blatant lies to smear my name.How can I do that when I preach anti-corruption?” /Gaseb responded.He hit back by requesting that //Garoeb give public account of the money he collected from the Damaras when he claimed that he wanted to take the Government to court over the non-recognition of certain Damara traditional leaders.”What happened to that money? What happened to the money they collected with the music concert at UN Plaza recently? That concert was held to collect money for the Damaras but we have not heard a single word about it,” /Gaseb said.The Damara Gaob Festival Organising Committee said only //Garoeb may be called king and the rest chiefs or headmen.Under the customary law of the !Oe#Gan traditional authority, their leader (/Gaseb) is called a king and is recognised as such by the Government although the Government has outlawed the Paramount King title of //Garoeb.Both groups claim that they are the legitimate representatives of their people.