FILLEMON Shuumbwa Nangolo will be crowned as Ondonga king at Onambango village near Ondangwa on Saturday.
A number of dignitaries, community leaders, government officials and leaders of traditional authorities are expected to attend the event. Josef Asino, the Ondonga Traditional Authority’s senior councillor, told yesterday that preparations for the ceremony are in full swing.
“We have been busy these days preparing for the ceremony, and I can assure you that all is in place. We are just waiting for everyone from all corners of the country to attend the ceremony. The young ones need to see how kings are crowned because this is something big, and it does not occur often,” he added.
Urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga earlier this month recognised Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo as the legitimate king of Ondonga.
In his letter to the Ondonga Traditional Authority, Mushelenga acknowledged receiving their application dated 15 April 2018 as well as another dated 7 June 2019, asking him to recognise Shuumbwa as successor to King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas, who died in March. The Ondonga faction, led by Konisa Eino Kalenga is, however, not taking the issue lying down, and has instituted legal action against Mushelenga’s recognition of Shuumbwa as king.
The case is currently before court.
Kalenga is seeking a reversal of the government’s recognition of Shuumbwa as Ondonga king. Asino further claimed that Mushelenga is also expected to attend the ceremony.
Efforts to get comment from Mushelenga proved futile, and his personal assistant could not confirm Mushelenga’s attendance at the event, saying no invitation had been extended to him.
