THE suicide of the disputed paramount chief of the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority, Keharanjo Nguvauva, will not give the opposition faction – led by his brother Kilus Nguvauva – the luxury to do as they please.
Fears that Nguvauva’s shock death at the age of 26 will leave a leadership vacuum in the deeply divided Ovambanderu community were allayed by family members yesterday.Nguvauva died on Friday when he allegedly hanged himself with an electric cable in Khomasdal.Addressing hundreds of mourners clad in their traditional attire in Soweto, Katutura, yesterday, Nguvauva’s uncle, Edwin Tjiramba, said although his death left a void, an heir to the chieftainship will be announced as soon as Nguvauva is buried.Tjiramba said in a suicide note found at the house where the incident took place, Nguvauva ‘did not mince his words about the succession of the chieftainship. Just because he is no more, [does not mean] they [the opposition faction] can have carte blanche to do what they want.’According to Tjiramba, his nephew ‘did not go down without a fight. He almost resolved to fight from his grave to have justice’.Tjiramba added that ‘note should be taken that the passing away has just given impetus to the recognition of this traditional authority by the Namibian Government’.The suicide note is still in the possession of the Police but was read out to ‘a delegation of the family’ on Saturday, Tjiramba said.Tjiramba yesterday described Nguvauva’s death as ‘untimely and most regrettable’.Khomas Regional Police Deputy Commissioner Silvanus Nghishidimbwa yesterday said that no foul play is suspected. Tjiramba told the mourners: ‘This matter is still under Police investigation and we have not been told what the true cause of his death is and nothing can be ruled out.’Nghishidimbwa said the suicide was reported to the Police at about 16h00 on Friday. Nguvauva’s body was found hanging in the garage, allegedly by the unidentified owner of the house in Khomasdal.A girlfriend of Nguvauva’s apparently lived at this house. Nghishidimbwa said it was unclear whether possible tension between the couple had led to the suicide.Amongst the mourners present at Nguvauva’s mother’s house yesterday were the Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Kazenambo Kazenambo, and Swanu president Usutuaije Maamberua.Nguvauva’s older half-brother, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Kilus Nguvauva, with whom he had been involved in a protracted dispute over the Ovambanderu chieftainship, was not present.When The Namibian phoned Kilus Nguvauva yesterday afternoon, he said he had just arrived in Windhoek and declined to comment any further. ‘Really, at this moment, I have no comment. I am still mourning the death of my younger brother.’Keharanjo Nguvauva had apparently stayed with another cousin of his, Mbakumua Hengari, since June last year.According to Hengari, Nguvauva ‘left me with a serious responsibility. He left me to decide over everything in his will’.Hengari said although he is willing to cooperate with the rest of the family about funeral arrangements, ‘I will have the hammer to decide on the final proceedings’.Tjiramba said yesterday that Nguvauva ‘clearly indicated how he wants the funeral proceedings to be made. He was very clear about the place and as to where he does not want to be buried.’When asked whether Kilus Nguvauva’s faction would be allowed at his brother’s funeral, senior chief Erastus Kahuure said through Tjiramba: ‘The short answer to the profound question is that everybody is welcome and indeed they are here. But we want to issue a word of caution: Please be here as mourners and don’t be here with ulterior motives.’Over the past three years – since the death of his father, Ovambanderu Paramount Chief Munjuku Nguvauva II, in January 2008 – Keharanjo Nguvauva has found himself at the centre of a bitter leadership struggle.Nguvauva was 23 years old when his father died. In a ceremony at Gobabis on August 9 2008, Nguvauva was sworn in as his father’s successor – but his designation as traditional leader of the Ovambanderu community continued to be disputed by a faction of the community under the leadership of Kilus Nguvauva, and has not been officially recognised by Government.A case over the Ovambanderu leadership dispute remained pending in the High Court at the time of Keharanjo Nguvauva’s death.The case concerns an attempt by the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Jerry Ekandjo, to backtrack from a previous decision of the minister that Keharanjo Nguvauva should succeed his father as Ovambanderu Paramount Chief. Ekandjo later made a U-turn and decided that the Ovambanderu community should hold an election to choose a new paramount chief.Nguvauva, who was born on October 12 1984, was said to have obtained an LL B degree from the University of the Western Cape last year. He was employed in the Ministry of Justice.On his mother’s side, Nguvauva is survived by two brothers and one sister. He also leaves behind a daughter.Tjiramba said yesterday there was no indication yet of when the funeral would take place.
