LOCAL and Regional Government Minister Jerry Ekandjo says Keharanjo II Nguvauva, born from the second marriage of the late Mbanderu Chief Munjuku II Nguvauva, should become his successor.
Ekandjo made the ruling after studying the report of a team he had appointed to investigate the long-running dispute among the Ovambanderu community over who, between Kaheranjo and Deputy Fisheries Minister Kilus Nguvauva, oldest son of the late Chief Munjuku II, should become the next chief.Kilus is the oldest son of the late Chief Munjuku II, who died in January last year, but he was born out of wedlock, which – according to Ovambanderu norms and traditions – disqualifies him.Ekandjo said Ovambanderu customary laws favour the oldest son born within wedlock as the rightful successor should a vacancy of chieftainship arise.’These customary laws were confirmed by elderly people and middle-aged interviewees met by my investigation committee. ‘My investigation committee has confirmed this custom during their engagement with the two groups during the investigation. The confirmation of such customs within Ovambanderu succession is overwhelming,’ Ekandjo wrote to the two groups.The split in the Ovambanderu community has run deep for over a decade and was even brought before the Supreme Court as the faction under Senior Traditional Councillor Erastus Kahuure, who supports Keharanjo as the new chief, opposed a new tribal constitution, which allegedly imposed many changes on the community without consultation.It is said that opponents of Kahuure advised the sickly Chief Munjuku to expel Kahuure and 10 other senior traditional councillors.They won a High Court victory more than two years ago, when the judge ruled they should be reinstated.The Ovambanderu Traditional Authority (under Munjuku) appealed against the ruling.The Supreme Court ruled in March last year that the dismissal of the 11 councillors was wrong, but dismissed the High Court ruling about the new tribal constitution, which the High Court found was not acceptable.The Supreme Court ruled that the new constitution was acceptable.Ekandjo said the dispute affected the Ovambanderu community’s social life and disintegrated families. He has given Kilus Nguvauva and his group 30 days to accept his ruling or to let him know on their position about the ruling.
