THE Ondonga ‘king-designate’ Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo is under military and intelligence unit protection following the latest round of the succession fight.
Nangolo, who is a Namibia Defence Force member, was in 2002 named as the next Ondonga king by the late Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, who died on 26 March, aged 86.
It appears the military intensified their presence after another contender to the throne, Oscar Sheehama, asked the Windhoek High Court last week to stop Nangolo from acting as if he was going to be the next Ondonga king.
Since Elifas’ death last month, Nangolo has been visiting the palace in a convoy. Some of his supporters claim that his life is in danger.
The guards assigned to Nangolo follow him everywhere, even when he stands up to answer his phone.
Defence minister Penda ya Ndakolo yesterday said some of Nangolo’s friends were accompanying their colleague.
“There is nothing wrong with it,” Ya Ndakolo said, adding that he was told Nangolo was related to the king, and would be observing a mourning period.
The minister said there was no permission given for bodyguards from his ministry.
“He was just being escorted to the funeral proceedings of his uncle. They are three. They did not go to guard him. No guns were given. No weapons,” he asserted.
Ya Ndakolo added that as per Aawambo tradition, when one loses a close family member, they never go alone.
The minister said he was not aware of the intelligence unit’s involvement because he did not see how they fit into the funeral arrangements.
Police inspector general Sebastian Ndeitunga said they did not give any personal protection to Nangolo since they are not interested in the succession feuds, but only want to keep peace and order.
“I was told he has protection from someone who is a retired police officer. That is a personal choice. It has nothing to do with us. We do not want to be involved in the Ondonga dispute. We protect all citizens of this country,” Ndeitunga stressed.
Nangolo could not be reached for comment yesterday.
THE DISPUTE
Despite the government confirming Nangolo as the next Ondonga king in June 2012, the nomination caused irreconcilable differences among people within the royal family.
The latest succession battle pits Sheehama against Nangolo, although some people argue that both do not qualify to be king because their level is way down on the ladder of succession.
Sheehama and Konisa Eino Kalenga last week asked the High Court to order Nangolo to stop acting like Elifas’ successor.
The application will be heard on Thursday.
“Their level to succession is very far – two levels down from the throne.
Their chance to rule is there, but not yet,” a source close to the issue explained.
The Namibian also understands that the royal family elders met to decide who would be the next king.
The family’s spokesperson, kuku Selma Gwanandjokwe Shejavali, however, told this reporter last month that the next successor cannot be named before the king’s burial.
Elifas will be buried on 13 April. Shejavali said the public will only be told of the identity of the successor on 14 April 2019.
