Govt briefed on deadly tribal clash

TWELVE traditional leaders from the Maharero Royal Traditional Authority met Deputy Prime Minister Libertina Amathila yesterday to brief her on a tribal clash in which a young man lost his life on Friday.

Theboy Hiiho (25) was shot dead at Onderombapa settlement in the Aminuis constituency. After the meeting, the Chairperson of the Maharero Royal Traditional Authority Co-ordinating Committee for Urban Centres, Gustav Mupurua, told The Namibian that they had briefed Amathila and other Government leaders on the situation and that consultations with Government would continue.Amathila told the group that she would brief President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Cabinet on the matter.Pohamba is on a visit to China and is expected back tomorrow.Mupurua said it was up to Namibians to judge who was wrong on this matter.”But any right-thinking person will be able to say who was wrong,” said Mupurua.Hiiho was fatally shot by an unknown person after a ceremony when a group of people attacked traditional councillor Ewald Kazongominja (from the Maharero Royal Traditional Authority) and his followers, who were planning to officially open an office and hoist the Herero red flag, the Namibian flag and that of the African Union (AU).The Maharero Royal Traditional Authority is headed by Chief Alfons Maharero.Another group, believed to support unrecognised Chief Emmanuel Kavari of the Kavari Traditional Authority, were opposed to the event.They claimed that the Maharero Royal Traditional Authority did not inform them and other traditional authorities in Omaheke about the event.They wanted to ceremony to be cancelled.Trouble started when the Maharero supporters were adamant that they had consulted all relevant parties and the event should go ahead.Other Kavari supporters reportedly arrived at the scene in cars, armed with firearms, sticks and stones.Two shots were fired.Hiiho was hit and died on the spot.Mupurua said Hiiho was a member of the Kavari group.On Saturday, the Maharero group wanted to proceed with the event but Chief Alfons Maharero was advised by Government to cancel it until further notice.The Chief was called to Windhoek to meet Amathila on the matter.Police Chief Inspector Pax Mwanawina in the Omaheke Region said yesterday that no suspect had yet been arrested in connection with Hiiho’s death.After the meeting, the Chairperson of the Maharero Royal Traditional Authority Co-ordinating Committee for Urban Centres, Gustav Mupurua, told The Namibian that they had briefed Amathila and other Government leaders on the situation and that consultations with Government would continue.Amathila told the group that she would brief President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Cabinet on the matter.Pohamba is on a visit to China and is expected back tomorrow.Mupurua said it was up to Namibians to judge who was wrong on this matter.”But any right-thinking person will be able to say who was wrong,” said Mupurua.Hiiho was fatally shot by an unknown person after a ceremony when a group of people attacked traditional councillor Ewald Kazongominja (from the Maharero Royal Traditional Authority) and his followers, who were planning to officially open an office and hoist the Herero red flag, the Namibian flag and that of the African Union (AU).The Maharero Royal Traditional Authority is headed by Chief Alfons Maharero.Another group, believed to support unrecognised Chief Emmanuel Kavari of the Kavari Traditional Authority, were opposed to the event.They claimed that the Maharero Royal Traditional Authority did not inform them and other traditional authorities in Omaheke about the event.They wanted to ceremony to be cancelled.Trouble started when the Maharero supporters were adamant that they had consulted all relevant parties and the event should go ahead.Other Kavari supporters reportedly arrived at the scene in cars, armed with firearms, sticks and stones.Two shots were fired.Hiiho was hit and died on the spot.Mupurua said Hiiho was a member of the Kavari group.On Saturday, the Maharero group wanted to proceed with the event but Chief Alfons Maharero was advised by Government to cancel it until further notice.The Chief was called to Windhoek to meet Amathila on the matter.Police Chief Inspector Pax Mwanawina in the Omaheke Region said yesterday that no suspect had yet been arrested in connection with Hiiho’s death.