THE faction of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) led by chairperson chief Vipuira Kapuuo has released a statement addressing the ongoing leadership disputes, defamatory allegations, and the OTA’s official stance on genocide negotiations, strongly rejecting recent assertions made by chief Mutjinde Katjiua and his rival faction.
The statement, issued by chief Janee Mujahere on behalf of the OTA chairperson, counters assertions made by chief Katjiua during a press conference last week, where he alleged that Kapuuo’s faction had appointed representatives to the genocide joint declaration committee, a position both factions have opposed.
Kapuuo refutes the claims, emphasising that the OTA’s stance on the proposed Joint Declaration on Genocide between the Namibian and German governments remains unchanged.
“The Ovaherero Traditional Authority remains on record as declaring the purported Joint Declaration on Genocide between the German and Namibian governments as prejudicial to our quest for restorative justice.
Our position as the OTA, which aligns with the collective stance through the Okandjoze Chiefs Assembly on Genocide, is well articulated, documented, and speaks volumes,” Kapuuo states.
He continues that “any other perception being painted by our detractors, including professor Mutjinde Katjiua, is deliberate and amounts to a desperate distortion of facts”.
Kapuuo asserts that anyone claiming to represent the OTA on a joint declaration committee is not officially delegated by them.
Reflecting on previous legal disputes, including chief Katjiua’s 2022 effort to halt an OTA chiefs council meeting, Mujahere stresses that courts are the appropriate forum for resolving internal conflicts when dialogue fails.
He affirms that the resolutions from the Ozombuzovindimba chiefs council meeting in September 2022 remain in effect, reiterating a commitment to community unity once legal matters are resolved.
The conflict within the Ovaherero Traditional Authority has led to rival assemblies, conflicting directives, and ongoing High Court litigation between the factions supporting Katjiua and Kapuuo.
During a chiefs council assembly in 2022, supporters of Katjiua voted to suspend Kapuuo, with 192 out of 342 chiefs voting in favour of the motion.
Kapuuo’s faction, however, challenged the validity of the meeting, asserting that its resolutions are null and void and maintaining that only a legitimate traditional senate holds the authority to appoint a paramount chief.
Chief Katjiua did not respond to questions submitted to him by the time of publication.
– Nampa
