Kuaima Riruako celebrates 30 years as Herero paramount chief

HERERO Paramount Chief Kuiama Riruako will celebrate three decades as traditional chief this weekend, and many oxen are expected to be slaughtered for the grand occasion, which will be celebrated in style at Okakarara.

The organising committee for the 30th anniversary of the reign of Chief Riruako is already hard at work organising the big event, according to Chief Tumbee Tjombe, Chairperson of Ovaherero Senate in a statement on Wednesday. “The Ovaherero community stands before a momentous and historical epoch when on July 24 to 26 July it reflects and celebrates 30 years during which Chief Riruako has overseen, guarded and steered this community through both good and bad times,” Chief Tjombe noted.”Surely this is not an event for the Ovaherero community alone but an opportune moment to further buttress existing relations with fellow traditional communities and other dignified well-wishers, who already received invitations.”The anniversary celebrations will start on Thursday at Okahitua east of Okakarara and then continue on Friday and Saturday at the Okakarara Cultural Centre.Riruako is still not officially recognised by the Namibian government, which put in place the Traditional Authorities Act in 1995 which declared all chiefs were no longer recognised.All serving chiefs had to re-apply for recognition.In 2001 Riruako and about 40 other Herero chiefs took the matter to court which set aside the Government decision not to recognise them.Since then, protracted negotiations have been taking place.Chief Riruako was elected in absentia in 1978, while living in exile in the United States, when a new Herero leader had to be found after the previous Chief, Clemens Kapuuo, was assassinated in March 1978.Riruako was a founder member of the National Unity Democratic Organisation(Nudo) in 1964 but went into exile later the same year.Like many other smaller parties, Nudo later joined the political grouping Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA).”The Ovaherero community stands before a momentous and historical epoch when on July 24 to 26 July it reflects and celebrates 30 years during which Chief Riruako has overseen, guarded and steered this community through both good and bad times,” Chief Tjombe noted.”Surely this is not an event for the Ovaherero community alone but an opportune moment to further buttress existing relations with fellow traditional communities and other dignified well-wishers, who already received invitations.”The anniversary celebrations will start on Thursday at Okahitua east of Okakarara and then continue on Friday and Saturday at the Okakarara Cultural Centre.Riruako is still not officially recognised by the Namibian government, which put in place the Traditional Authorities Act in 1995 which declared all chiefs were no longer recognised.All serving chiefs had to re-apply for recognition.In 2001 Riruako and about 40 other Herero chiefs took the matter to court which set aside the Government decision not to recognise them.Since then, protracted negotiations have been taking place.Chief Riruako was elected in absentia in 1978, while living in exile in the United States, when a new Herero leader had to be found after the previous Chief, Clemens Kapuuo, was assassinated in March 1978.Riruako was a founder member of the National Unity Democratic Organisation(Nudo) in 1964 but went into exile later the same year.Like many other smaller parties, Nudo later joined the political grouping Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA).