Mafwe land dispute in court

THE Mafwe Traditional Authority is not in agreement with a recent decision of the Council of Traditional Leaders to put tribal land in the Caprivi Region under the jurisdiction of the Masubia Traditional Authority.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba recently sent a letter to both authorities, informing them that he acted on the recommendation of the Council and the area in question would now fall under Masubia chief Kisco Liswani. The decision affects the Muyako territory in the Lake Liambezi area, home to about 10 000 people.Mafwe Chief George Simasiku Mamili held a press conference in Windhoek on Wednesday, which was also attended by about 40 of his followers.”The decision of the Council of Traditional Leaders is biased,” said Chief Mamili.”I had an audience with President Pohamba this week and I informed him that I do not accept the decision of the Council and that my tribal authority will take the matter to court,” Mamili stated, receiving applause from his followers.”We also did not accept the letter [of February 12] which Regional and Local Government Minister John Pandeni brought to us with the President’s decision),” he added.”When Minister Pandeni came to me [at Katima Mulilo] with the letter, I asked him to show me where the new borders are but he could not tell me.I requested a map of the area so that the Masubia Chief, Kisco Liswani, knows where the boundaries are, but I did not get that either,” Mamili said through his interpreter.Mamili appealed to all his subjects to remain calm and to wait for the court outcome.The Mafwe and Masubia had a similar dispute about the same area in the 1980s, which the Mafwe won in a South African court.The decision affects the Muyako territory in the Lake Liambezi area, home to about 10 000 people.Mafwe Chief George Simasiku Mamili held a press conference in Windhoek on Wednesday, which was also attended by about 40 of his followers.”The decision of the Council of Traditional Leaders is biased,” said Chief Mamili.”I had an audience with President Pohamba this week and I informed him that I do not accept the decision of the Council and that my tribal authority will take the matter to court,” Mamili stated, receiving applause from his followers.”We also did not accept the letter [of February 12] which Regional and Local Government Minister John Pandeni brought to us with the President’s decision),” he added.”When Minister Pandeni came to me [at Katima Mulilo] with the letter, I asked him to show me where the new borders are but he could not tell me.I requested a map of the area so that the Masubia Chief, Kisco Liswani, knows where the boundaries are, but I did not get that either,” Mamili said through his interpreter.Mamili appealed to all his subjects to remain calm and to wait for the court outcome.The Mafwe and Masubia had a similar dispute about the same area in the 1980s, which the Mafwe won in a South African court.