THE late Ondonga Traditional Authority King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas will be buried next weekend at Olukonda in the northern part of Namibia.
Elifas died on 26 March at Onandjokwe Luthern Hospital at the age of 86.
The executive director at the office of the Prime Minister I-Ben Nashandi today confirmed that a state memorial service for King Elifas will be held on Friday 12 April at Onamungundo and a state funeral will take place on Saturday, 13 April at Olukonda cemetery.
“Up to this point, those are the dates, if anything comes up we will communicate,” Nashandi said.
Meanwhile, the ongoing succession battle has intensified, with throne contestants Oscar Sheehama and Konisa Eino Kalenga of the Ondonga Traditonal Authority having filed an urgent court application in the High Court on Thursday to restrain Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo from acting as the late king’s successor.
Among the 18 respondents is Nangolo, the Ondonga Traditional Authority and the ministry of urban and rural development.
According to court documents seen by The Namibian, the two also do not want Nangolo performing or participating or continuing with or from giving effect to any ritual or preparatory step under the Ondonga customary law.
Nangolo was named successor in 2002 by the late King, although some members of the royal family were rooting for Sheehema.
Acting secretary general of the traditional authority Nepando Amupanda confirmed the court interdict.
